iPwiPiPilPlw 


«.  ""Ill 


\  & 


,  OF   THE 

Theological    Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 


BS  2560  .B5 

1839 

Bickersteth, 

Edward, 

1786- 

1850. 

A  harmony  of 

the 

four 

nosncil  « 

I  / 


V 


•V  ^  ?  • 


y 


1 


'  \ 


^ 


HARMONY 


OF 


THE     FOUR     GOSPELS 


FOUNDED  ON  THE  ARRANGEMENT  OF  TflE  HARMONIA 

EVANGELICA,  BY  THE  RliV.  EDWARD 

GRESWELL. 


WITH  THE  PRACTICAL  REFLECTIONS 
OF  DR.  DODDRIDGE. 


DESIGNED  FOR  THE  USE  OF  FAMIMES  AND  SCHOOLS,  AND  FOR 
PRIVATE  EDIFICATION. 


RY  THE  REV.  E. 'BICKERSTETH, 

RKOTOR  OF  WATTON,  HERTS. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
HOOKER    AND    CLAXTON 

1839. 


PREFACE. 


The  objects  in  view  in  compiling-  the  present  work, 
have  been  to  give  such  a  Harmony  of  the  Gospels  as 
might  furnish  heads  of  families  with  a  suitable  work 
for  family  instruction:  schools  with  a  profitable  school 
book ;  and  Christians  in  general  with  a  combined 
statement  of  the  different  accounts  given  of  our  Lord 
by  the  Evangelists,  so  that  all  may  have  a  more 
distinct  and  full  view  of  his  Divine  and  glorious 
character. 

The  plan  of  Mr.  Greswell's  Harmony,  given  in  his 
Harmonia  Evangelica,  on  the  whole,  seemed  to  the 
Editor  the  most  satisfactory  of  those  which  he  has 
had  the  opportunity  of  consulting,  and  has  therefore 
been  preferred  to  that  of  others  ;  and  has  been  fol- 
lowed with  but  slio-ht  variations. 

The  fundamental  principles  of  Mr.  Greswell's  Har- 
mony are,  1,  That  the  last  three  Gospels  are  regular 
compositions  ;  2,  That  St.  Matthew's  Gospel  is  partly 
regular  and  partly  irregular  ;  3,  That  each  of  the 
Gospels  was  written  in  the  order  in  which  it  stands  ; 
4,  That  the  Gospels  last  written,  in  every  instance, 
were  supplemental  to  the  prior.  For  the  full  investi- 
gation of  this  subject,  with  the  detailed  evidence,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  that  valuable  work,  entitled.  Dis- 
sertations on  the  Principles  and  Arrangement  of  the 


IV  PREFACE. 

Harmony  of  the  Gospels,  by  the  Rev.  E.  Greswell, 
3  vols.  8vo. 

The  Reflections  of  Dr.  Doddridge,  though  wanting 
in  that  more  prominent  statement  of  Evangelical 
doctrines  which  marks  those  of  Guyse,  Scott,  and 
some  others,  are  yet  so  peculiarly  devotional  and 
practical,  as  to  be  very  edifying.  It  is  hoped  that 
they  may  be  more  extensively  useful  by  being  thus 
connected  with  an  improved  Harmony  in  a  portable 
volume. 

In  forming  the  combined  text,  the  Editor  has 
chiefly  availed  himself  of  that  published  by  the 
Moravian  brethren,  only  following  the  order  of 
Mr.  Greswell's  arrangement. 

He  has  prefixed  a  striking  Introduction  taken  from 
Baxter's  Reasons  of  the  Christian  Religion,  giving 
an  account  of  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  ;  with  some  slight  alterations  and 
additions. 

He  will  be  truly  thankful,  should  it  please  God  to, 
make  the  work  acceptable  and  useful  to  his  church. 


Watt07i  Rectory, 
Oct.  1,  1832. 


INTRODUCTION 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 


"  The  Gospel  or  doctrine  of  Christ  has  the  very  image 
and  superscription  of  God,  I  will  not  say  imprinted 
on  it,  that  is  too  little^  but  intrinsically  animating 
and  constituting  it.  The  matttr  and  design  contains 
the  most  wonderful  expression  of  the  wisdom  of  God, 
that  ever  was  made  to  man  on  earth.  All  is  myste- 
rious, yet  admirably  fit,  consistent  and  congruous. 
That  a  world  which  is  visibly  and  undeniably  fallen 
into  W' ickedness  and  misery,  should  have  a  Redeemer, 
Saviour,  and  Mediator  towards  God  !  That  he  should 
be  one  that  is  near  enough  to  God  and  unto  us,  and 
hath  the  nature  of  both  :  that  he  should  be  the  second 
Adam,  the  Root  of  the  redeemed  and  regenerate : 
that  God  should  give  all  mercy  from  himself,  from 
his  own  bounty  and  fulness,  and  not  (as  unwilling) 
be  persuaded  to  it  by  another  ;  and  therefore  that  the 
Redeemer  be  not  any  angel  or  intermediate  person, 
but  God  himself :  that  thus  God  comes  nearer  unto 
man,  who  is  revolted  from  him,  to  draw  up  man  again 
to  him  :  that  he  loose  not  the  world,  and  yet  do  not 

!• 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

violate  his  governing  justice  :  that  he  be  so  merciful, 
as  not  to  be  unrighteous,  nor  permit  his  laws  and 
government  to  be  despised  ;  and  yet  so  just,  as  that 
his  only  Son  must  die  before  one  sinner  can  be  for- 
given :  that  he  gives  man  a  new  law  and  conditions 
of  salvation,  suitable  to  his  lapsed  guilty  state  ;  and 
leaves  him  not  under  a  law  and  conditions,  which 
were  fitted  to  the  innocent :  that  he  revealed  himself 
to  the  apostate  world  in  that  way,  which  only  is  fit 
for  their  recovery,  that  is,  in  his  admirable  love  and 
goodness,  yet  combined  with  unutterable  purity  and 
tenderness,  that  so  love  might  win  our  love,  and 
attract  those  hearts,  which  under  guilt  and  the  ter- 
rors of  condemning  justice  would  never  have  been 
brought  to  love  him :  that  guilty  souls  have  such 
evidence  of  God's  reconciliation  to  encourage  them, 
to  expect  his  pardon,  and  to  come  to  him  with  joy 
and  boldness  in  their  addresses;  having  a  Mediator 
to  trust  in,  and  his  sacrifice,  merits,  and  acceptable* 
name,  to  plead  with  God  :  that  justice  and  mercy  are 
so  admirably  conjoined  in  these  effects  :  that  Satan, 
and  the  world,  and  death,  should  be  so  conquered, 
in  a  suffering  way,  and  man  have  so  perfect  a  pat- 
tern to  imitate,  for  self-denial,  humility,  contempt  of 
honour,  wealth  and  life,  and  exact  obedience,  and 
resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  with  perfect  love  to 
God  and  man :  that  the  world  should  be  under  such 
an  universal  Administrator,  and  the  church  be  all 
united  in  such  a  Head ;  and  have  one  in  their  nature 
that  has  risen  from  the  dead,  to  be  in  possession  of 


INTRODUCTION.  VU 

the  glory  which  they  are  going  to,  and  thence  to 
send  down  his  Spirit  to  sanctify  them  and  fit  them 
for  heaven  ;  and  afterwards  to  be  their  Judge,  and  to 
receive  them  unto  blessedness  :  and  that  sinners  now 
be  not  condemned  merely  for  want  of  innocency,  but 
for  rejecting  the  grace  and  mercy  which  would  have 
saved  them  :  that  we  have  all  this  taught  us  by  a 
Messenger  from  heaven,  and  a  perfect  rule  of  life 
delivered  to  us  by  him,  and  all  this  sealed  by  a  Divine 
attestation :  that  in  the  weakness  and  helplessness 
to  which  man  is  sunk,  He  provides  the  gifts  of  the 
Spirit  to  enlighten,  to  regenerate,  to  sanctify,  to  be  in 
his  people  a  Spirit  of  adoption,  to  console,  and  to 
make  them  meet  for  heaven  :  that  this  doctrine  is 
suited  to  the  capacity  of  the  weakest,  and  yet  so 
mysterious  as  to  exercise  the  strongest  wits  ;  and  is 
delivered  to  us,  not  by  an  imposing  force,  but  by  the 
exhortations  and  persuasions  of  men  like  ourselves, 
commissioned  to  open  the  evidences  of  truth  and 
necessity  in  the  Gospel :  all  this  is  no  less  than  the 
image  and  wonderful  effect  of  the  wisdom  of  God. 

And  his  goodness  and  love^  his  holiness  and  justice, 
are  as  resplendent  in  it  all :  for  this  is  the  effect 
of  the  w^hole  design,  to  set  up  a  glass  in  the  work 
of  our  redemption,  in  which  God's  love  and  holiness 
should  be  as  powerfully  represented  to  mankind,  as 
his  power  was  in  the  works  of  creation.  Here  sinful 
man  is  saved  by  a  means  which  he  never  thought 
of  or  desired  :  he  is  fetched   up  from   the  gates  of 


Vm  INTRODUCTION. 

hell ;  redeemed  from  the  sentence  of  the  righteous 
violated  law  of  God,  and  the  execution  of  his  justice  : 
The  Eternal  Word  so  condescends  to  man  in  the 
assumption  of  our  nature,  as  that  the  greatness  of  the 
love  and  mercy,  incomprehensible  to  man,  becomes 
the  greatest  difficulty  to  our  belief.  He  reveals  to 
us  the  things  of  the  world  above,  and  brings  life  and 
immortality  to  light :  He  dwells  with  men ;  He  con- 
verses with  the  meanest :  He  preaches  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation  to  the  world :  He  refuses  not 
such  familiarity  with  the  poorest  or  the  worst,  as  is 
needful  to  their  cure :  He  spends  his  time  in  doing 
good,  and  healing  all  manner  of  bodily  diseases  :  He 
refuses  the  honours  and  riches  of  the  world,  and  the 
pleasures  of  the  flesh,  to  work  out  our  salvation  : 
He  bears  the  ingratitude  and  abuse  of  sinners,  and 
endures  to  be  scorned,  buffeted,  spit  upon,  tormented 
and  crucified  by  those,  to  whom  he  had  done  no 
greater  wrong  than  to  seek  their  salvation  :  He  makes 
himself  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  to  shew  the  world  what 
sin  deserved,  and  to  save  them  from  the  deserved 
punishment.  God  had  at  first  decreed  and  declared, 
that  death  should  be  the  punishment  of  sin ;  and 
Satan  had  maliciously  drawn. man  to  it,  by  contra- 
dicting this  threatening  of  God,  and  making  man 
believe  that  God  would  falsify  his  word,  and  that 
he  did  envy  man  the  felicity  of  his  advancement  to 
be  liker  God  in  knowledge  :  And  now  Christ  will 
first  justify  the  truth  and  righteousness  of  God,  and 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

will  demonstrate,  by  himself  dying  in  our  stead,  that 
death  is  indeed  the  wages  of  sin  ;  and  will  shew  the 
world,  that  God  is  so  far  from  envying  their  felicity, 
that  he  will  purchase  it  at  the  dearest  rate,  and 
deliver  them  freely  from  the  misery  which  sin  and 
Satan  had  involved  them  in.  Thus  enemies  are 
reconciled  by  the  sufferings  of  him  whom  they 
offended ;  even  by  his  sufferings  in  the  flesh,  whose 
Godhead  could  not  suffer  ;  and  by  his  death  as  man, 
who  as  God  was  most  immortal.  As  soon  as  he  was 
risen,  he  first  appeared  to  a  woman,  who  had  been  a 
sinner,  and  sent  her  as  his  first  messenger  with  words 
of  love  and  comfort  to  his  disconsolate  disciples,  who 
had  but  lately  sinfully  forsaken  him  :  He  gives  them 
no  upbraiding  words,  but  meltingly  says  to  her.  Go  to 
my  brethren,  and  say  unto  them,  I  ascend  unto  my 
Father,  and  your  Father,  to  my  God  and  your  God.  He 
after  this  familiarly  converses  with  them,  and  instructs 
them  in  the  things  concerning  the  kingdom  of  God. 
He  bids  them  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature, 
proclaiming  salvation  for  all  the  world,  that  will  not 
reject  it ;  and  appoints  messengers  to  preach  it  unto 
all ;  and  whatever  pains  or  suffering  it  cost  them,  to  go 
through  all  with  patience  and  alacrity,  and  to  be  de- 
terred by  nothing  from  the  saving  of  men's  souls.  He 
gave  the  Holy  Spirit  miraculously  to  them,  to  enable 
them  to  carry  on  this  work ;  and  to  leave  upon  record 
to  the  world,  the  infallible  narrative  of  his  life  and 
doctrine :  His  gospel  is  filled  up  with  matter  of  conso- 


INTRODUCTION. 


lation,  with  promises  of  mercy,  pardon  and  salvation, 
the  description  of  the  privileges  of  holy  souls,  justifi- 
cation, adoption,  peace  and  joy:  and  finally.  He  gov- 
erns and  defends  his  church,  and  pleads  our  cause, 
and  secures  our  interest  in  heaven,  according  to  the 
promises  of  this  his  word.  Thus  is  the  gospel  the  very 
image  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God.  And  such 
a  doctrine  from  such  a  person  must  needs  be  Divine." 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

THE  PERIOD  OF  TIIIRTY-ONE  YEARS,  FROM  SIX  YEARS 
PREVIOUS  TO  THE  BIRTH  OF  CHRIST  TO  TWENTY- 
SIX  YEARS  SUBSEQUENT  TO   HIS   BIRTH. 


SECT. 

1.  The  preface  to  the  Gospels     . 

2.  John  the  Baptist's  birth  foretold 

3.  The  birth  of  Jesus  Christ  foretold  . 

4.  Mary's  visit  to  Elizabeth 

5.  Joseph,  instructed  by  the  angel,  receives  Mary 

6.  John  the  Baptist's  birth  . 

7.  Song  of  Zacharias 

8.  Christ's  birth  at  Bethlehem      . 

9.  The  genealogy  of  Joseph  and  of  Mary 

10.  Jesus  presented  in  the  temple 

1 1.  The  visit  of  the  Eastern  Magi 

12.  The  flight  into  Egypt  and  return  to  Nazareth 

13.  Jesus  in  the  temple  hears  and  questions  the  doctors 


PAGE 

3 

4 

6 

8 

10 

11 

12 

13 

16 

19 

21 

23 

25 


PART    II. 

THE  PERIOD  OF  EIGHTEEN  MONTHS,  FROM  THE  BE- 
GINNING OF  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST's  PREACHING,  IN 
THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE  YEAR  26,  TO  THE  END  OF 
THE  FIRST  year's  PREACHING  OF  OUR  LORD,  IN 
THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE   YEAR  28. 


1.  The  divinity,  humanity,  and  office  of  Jesus  Christ   .         .     31 

2.  John  the  Baptist  begins  to  preach 33 

3.  Multitudes  resorting  to  John,  are  instructed     .         .         .34 

4.  The  baptism  of  Jesus        .         , 36 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

SECT.  PAGE 

5.  Jesus  tempted  by  Satan 38 

6.  Priests  sent  from  Jerusalem  to  John       .        .        .        .40 

7.  John  gives  testimony  to  Jesus         .         .         *         .         .41 

8.  Philip  called,  and  Jesus'  interview  with  Nathanael  .    43 

9.  The  marriage  in  Cana 45 

10.  Jesus  drives  those  that  sold  out  of  the  temple  .         .     46 

11.  Christ's  discourse  with  Nicodemus  on  regeneration         .    48 

12.  The  necessity  of  faith  in  Christ 50 

13.  John  gives  his  last  full  testimony  of  Christ      .         .         .51 

14.  Discourse  with  the  woman  of  Sarnaria    .         .         .         .53 

15.  Discourse  with  the  disciples  and  stay  at  Sychar      .         .     56 

16.  While  at  Cana  Jesus  cures  a  nobleman's  son  .         .     57 

17.  Preaches  in  the  synagogue  at  Nazareth  .         .         .59 

18.  Christ  comes  to  Capernaum,  and  calls  Andrew,  Simon, 

James,  and  John  .......     62 

19.  Teaches  in  the  synagogue,  and  casts  out  an  unclean 

spirit  .........     63 

20.  Cures  Simon's  wife's  mother — casts  out  devils — and 

goes  through  Galilee 64 

21.  Christ  begins    the    sermon   on    the   mount   with   the 

Beatitudes  ........     67 

22.  He  came  to  fulfil  the  law  ;  he  explains  it         .         .         .69 

23.  He  further  explains  the  law     .         .         .         .        .         .71 

24.  Directions  about  alms,  prayer,  and  fasting       .         .         .74 

25.  Not  to  lay  up  treasure  on  earth  but  in  heaven         .         .     76 

26.  Not  to  judge  others,  to  pray,  enter  the  strait  gate  and 

beware  of  false  prophets 78 

27.  He  concludes  by  shewing  the  necessity  of  doing  the  will 

of  God 80 

28.  Teaches  from  Peter's  ship — the  large  draught  of  fishes  .     84 

29.  Cures  a  leper,  and  retires  to  the  desert    .         .         .         .85 

30.  The  man  sick  of  the  palsy  let  down  through  the  roof, 

and  healed  ........     85 

31.  Matthew,  called,  makes  a  feast — Christ  defends   his 

disciples 37 

PART  III. 

THE  PERIOD  OF  TWELVE  MONTHS,  FROM  THE  END 
OF  THE  FIRST  YEAR's  PREACHING  OF  OUR  LORD 
TO  THE  END  OF  THE  SECOND  YEAR  IN  THE  BEGIN- 
NING   OF  THE  YEAR  29. 

1.  Heals  the  infirm  man  at  the  pool  of  Bethesda  .        .        .93 

2.  Defends  himself  from  the  Jews 95 

3.  Shews  the  divine  testimony  to  his  mission         .         .         .96 

4.  Defends  his  disciples  for  plucking  ears  of  corn  .         .     98 

5.  Restores  the  withered  hand  on  the  Sabbath  .         .     100 


PART    I. 


MATTHEW  I.  II.— LUKE  I— III.  23—38. 

CONTAINING    A    PERIOD     OF      THIRTY-ONE     YEARS, 

FROM  SIX  YEARS  PREVIOUS  TO  THE  BIRTH  OF 
CHRIST  TO  TWENTY-SIX  YEARS  SUBSEQUENT  TO 
HIS    BIRTH. 


2 


HARMONY  OF  THE   FOUR  GOSPELS. 


SECTION  [. 

Mark  i.   1. — Luke  i.   1 — 4. 

The  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God.  Forasmuch  as  many  have  taken  in  hand 
to  set  forth  in  order  a  declaration  of  those  things 
which  are  most  surely  believed  among  us,  even  as 
they  delivered  them  unto  us,  which  from  the  begin- 
ning were  eye  witnesses,  and  ministers  of  the  word  : 
it  seemed  good  to  me  also,  having  had  perfect  under- 
standing of  all  things  from  the  very  first,  to  write  unto 
thee  in  order,  most  excellent  Theophilus,  that  thou 
mightest  know  the  certainty  of  those  things  wherein 
thou  hast  been  instructed. 

Let  us  humbly  adore  the  Divine  Goodness,  that  facts  of  so 
great  importance  as  these  now  to  be  laid  before  us  were  not 
left  to  the  uncertainty  of  oral  tradition,  but  delivered  to  the 
church  in  writing,  by  persons  who  had  so  many  opportunities 
of  learning  the  truth,  and  have  given  such  full  proof  of  their 
integrity  in  relating  it. — Let  us  be  thankful  that  we  have  not 
only  one  such  history,  but  that  several  undertook  this  excellent 
and  necessary  work,  by  whose  united  testimony  the  whole  is 
confirmed  ;  while  it  is  also  illustrated  by  the  variety  of  their 
narrations,  each  inserting  some  considerable  circumstance  which 
the  rest  have  omitted.  Let  us  rejoice  in  that  providential  care 
which  hath  preserved  this  invaluable  treasure  through  so  many 
succeeding  ages,  and  some  of  them  periods  of  the  grossest 
darkness  and  the  hottest  persecution. 


4  HARMONY    OF    THE 

While  we  study  this  orderly  series  of  sacred  history,  let  us  be 
concerned  that  our  faith  may  be  estabhshed  by  it,  and  our 
other  graces  proportionably  advanced  ;  maintaining  a  continual 
dependance  on  that  blessed  Spirit,  by  wliose  instruction  it  was 
written  to  lead  us  into  wise  and  pious  reflections  upon  it. 

To  conclude ;  from  the  care  which  this  holy  evangelist 
expresseth  for  the  edification  and  comfort  of  his  friend  Theoph- 
ilus,  let  us  learn  to  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  important 
offices  of  friendship  to  labour  for  the  spiritual  advantage  of  each 
other ;  by  endeavouring  not  only  to  awaken  and  instruct  those 
that  are  entirely  unacquainted  or  unaffected  with  divine  things, 
but  also,  as  we  have  opportunity,  to  confirm  the  faith  and  quicken 
the  zeal  of  the  most  established  Christians  with  whom  we 
converse.  Happy  the  men  whose  tongues  and  whose  pens  are 
employed  in  so  good  a  work  :  may  they  never,  in  the  remotest 
ages,  fail  of  some  excellent  TheopJiUus  to  welcome  and  encourage 
their  pious  attempts. 


SECTION  II. 

Luke  i.  5 — 25. 

There  was  in  the  days  of  Herod  the  king  of  Judea, 
a  certain  priest  named  Zacharias,  of  the  course  of 
Abia  :  and  his  wife  tvas  of  the  daughters  of  Aaron, 
and  her  name  was  Elisabeth.  And  they  were  both 
righteous  before  God,  walking  in  all  the  ccfmmand- 
ments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless.  And 
they  had  no  child,  because  that  Elisabeth  was 
barren,  and  they  both  were  now  well  stricken  in 
years.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  Avhile  he  executed 
the  priest's  office  before  God  in  the  order  of  his 
course,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  priest's  office, 
his  lot  was  to  burn  incense,  when  he  went  into  the 
temple  of  the  Lord.  And  the  whole  multitude  of  the 
people  were  praying  without  at  the  time  of  incense. 
And  there  appeared  unto  him  an  angel  of  the  Lord, 
standing  on  the  right  side  of  the  altar  of  incense. 
And  when  Zacharias  saw  him,  he  was  troubled,  and 
fear  fell  upon  him.  But  the  angel  said  unto  him, 
Fear  not,  Zacharias,  for  thy  prayer  is  heard  ;  and  thy 
wife  Elisabeth  shall  bear  thee  a  son,  and  thou  shall 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  ft 

call  his  name  John.  And  thou  shalt  have  joy  and 
gladness,  and  many  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth.  For 
he  shall  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  shall 
drink  neither  wine  nor  strong  drink  ;  and  he  shall 
be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  even  from  his  mother's 
womb.  And  many  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  he 
turn  to  the  Lord  their  God.  And  he  shall  go  before 
him,  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  to  turn  the 
hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  dis- 
obedient to  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  to  make  ready  a 
people  prepared  for  the  Lord.  And  Zacharias  said 
unto  the  angel.  Whereby  shall  I  know  this  ?  for  I 
am  an  old  man,  and  my  wife  well  stricken  in  years. 
And  the  angel  answering  said  unto  him,  I  am 
Gabriel,  that  stand  in  the  presence  of  God:  and  am 
sent  to  speak  unto  thee,  and  to  shew  thee  these  glad 
tidings.  And  behold  thou  shalt  be  dumb,  and  not 
able  to  speak,  until  the  day  that  these  things  shall 
be  performed,  because  thou  believest  not  my  words, 
which  shall  be  fulfilled  in  their  season.  And  the 
people  waited  for  Zacharias,  and  marvelled  that  he 
tarried  so  long  in  the  temple.  And  when  he  came 
out  he  could  not  speak  unto  them  ;  and  they  perceived 
that  he  had  seen  a  vision  in  the  temple :  for  he 
beckoned  unto  them,  and  remained  speechless.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  that  as  soon  as  the  days  of  his 
ministration  were  accomplished,  he  departed  to  his 
own  house.  And  after  those  days  his  wife  Elisabeth 
conceived,  and  hid  herself  five  months,  saying.  Thus 
hath  the  Lord  dealt  with  me  in  the  days  wherein 
he  looked  on  me,  to  take  away  my  reproach  among 
men. 

How  amiable  is  the  character  of  this  pious  pair,  who  were 
found  walking  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord 
blameless !  May  our  behaviour  be  thus  unblameable,  and  our 
obedience  thus  sincere  and  universal!  And  let  those  whose 
office  leads  them  nearer  to  God  than  others,  remember  the 
peculiar  obligation  to  imitate  such  an  example. 

Let  us  observe,  with  pleasure,  that  the  prayers  which  such 
worshippers  offer  come  up  with  acceptance  before  God  ;  to  whom 

2* 


6  HARMONY    OF    THE 

no  costly  perfume  is  so  sweet  as  the  fragrance  of  a  character 
like  this. — ^in  answer  of  peace  was  here  returned  when  the  case 
seemed  to  be  most  helpless.  Let  us  learn  to  wait  patiently  for 
the  Lord,  and  leave  it  to  his  own  infinite  wisdom  to  choose  the 
time  and  manner  in  which  he  shall  appear  for  us. 

Zacharias,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  converse  with  the  God 
of  heaven,  was,  nevertheless,  as  we  see,  thrown  into  great 
consternation  at  the  appearance  of  his  angelic  messenger.  And 
may  we  not  regard  it,  therefore,  as  an  instance  of  the  goodness 
as  well  as  wisdom  of  God,  that  he  determines  that  the  services 
which  these  heavenly  spirits  render  us  should  be  generally 
invisible? — It  is  delightful  to  observe  that  amiable  condescension 
with  which  Gabriel,  the  courtier  of  heaven,  behaved  on  this 
occasion.  Let  it  teach  us  with  pleasure  to  pursue  the  humblest 
offices  of  duty  and  love  which  God  may  assign  us  towards  any  of 
our  fellow-servants,  even  in  the  lowest  station. 

Happy  was  the  holy  Baptist  m  being  employed  in  this  blessed 
work  of  preparing  men's  hearts  to  receive  a  Saviour,  and  reducing 
the  disobedient  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just.  May  we  be  inspired  with 
some  degree  of  zeal  like  his,  in  our  proper  sphere,  to  pursue  so 
noble  a  design. 

We  see  in  the  instance  of  Zacharias,  that  some  remainders  of 
unbelief  may  be  found  even  in  a  faithful  heart :  let  us  guard  against 
them,  as  remembering  they  will  be  displeasing  to  God,  and  hurt- 
ful to  ourselves. — And,  to  conclude,  when  Providence  favours  us 
with  any  peculiarly  gracious  interpositions,  let  us  attentively 
remark  the  hand  of  God  in  them  ;  and  let  religious  retirement 
leave  room  for  serious  recollection  and  devout  acknowledgements. 


SECTION  III. 

Luke  i.  26—38. 

And  in  the  sixth  month  the  ansfel  Gabriel  was 
sent  from  God,  unto  a  city  of  Galilee,  named  Na- 
zareth, to  a  virgin  espoused  to  a  man  whose  name 
was  Joseph,  of  the  house  of  David;  and  the  virgin's 
name  was  Mary.  And  the  angel  came  in  unto  her 
and  said.  Hail !  thou  that  art  highly  favoured,  the 
Lord  is  with  thee :  blessed  art  thou  among  women. 
And  when  she  saw  him,  she  was  troubled  at  his  say- 
ing, and  cast  in  her  mind,  what  manner  of  salutation 
this  should  be.     And  the  angel  said  unto  her  Fear 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  7 

not,  Mary  :  for  thou  hast  found  favour  with  God. 
And  behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy  v:omb,  and 
bring  forth  a  son,  and  shak  call  his  name  JESUS. 
He  shall  be  great,  and  shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the 
Highest ;  and  the  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  him  the 
throne  of  his  father  David.  And  he  shall  reign  over 
the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there 
shall  be  no  end.  Then  said  Mary  unto  the  angel. 
How  shall  this  be,  seeing  I  know  not  a  man  ?  And 
the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  her,  The  Holy 
Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the  power  of  the 
Highest  shall  overshadow  thee  :  therefore  also  that 
holy  thing  which  shall  be  born  of  thee,  shall  be 
called  the  Son  of  God.  And  behold  thy  cousin 
Elisabeth,  she  hath  also  conceived  a  son  in  her  old 
age  :  and  this  is  the  sixth  month  with  her  who  was 
called  barren.  For  with  God  nothing  shall  be  im- 
possible. And  Mary  said,  Behold  the  handmaid  of 
the  Lord,  be  it  unto  me  according  to  thy  word.  And 
the  angel  departed  from  her. 


With  what  holy  wonder  and  pleasure  should  we  trace  this 
notice  of  an  incarnate  Redeemer!  and  how  thankfully  should 
we  adore  his  condescending  goodness,  that  for  us  men,  and 
for  our  salvation,  he  did  not  despise  the  womb  of  so  obscure  a 
virgin  ? 

We  too  are  ready  in  our  thoughts,  with  Gabiiel,  to  congratu- 
late her  on  so  distinguished  an  honour,  and  to  say,  as  one  did  to 
Christ  in  the  days  of  his  flesh.  Blessed  is  the  womb  that  bare  thee 
O  Lord,  and  the  breasts  which  thou  hast  sucked  !  (Luke  xi.  27.) 
But  let  us  remember  there  is  yet  a  nobler  blessedness  than  this 
attending  those,  in  whose  hearts  he  is  so  formed  by  divine  grace, 
that  they  hear  his  loord  and  do  it. 

'-  Let  us  hear  with  joy,  that  he  is  Jesus  the  Saviour ;  but  let  us 
also  consider  that  he  is  Christ  the  anointed  Sovereign,  who  is 
to  rule  over  God's  people  for  ever.  Remember,  O  my  soul  that 
of  his  kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end ;  and  esteem  it  thine  unspeak- 
able honour  and  happiness  to  be  enrolled  amongst  his  faithful 
subjects. 

The  glories  promised  to  such  in  the  future  state  are  so  far 
beyond  experince,  or  even  imagination,  that  they  might,  to  sense, 
appear  as  incredible  as  the  message  which  Mary  received :  but 
let  us  remember  the  eternal  truth  of  what  Gabriel  suggested  to 
her,  that  nothing  is  impossible  to  God,    He  can  therefore  ripen  our 


8  HARMONY    OF    THE 

imperfect  souls  to  all  the  improvement  and  pleasures  of  the 
heavenly  state,  as  easily  as  he  produces  the  meanest  vegetable  on 
the  earth. 

Let  the  temper  of  the  blessed  virgin  on  this  great  occasion,  be 
therefore  the  beautiful  model  of  ours:  so  when  the  purposes  of 
the  Divine  Love  are  declared  to  us,  we  may  resign  ourselves  unto 
the  Lord :  and  with  such  calm  tranquillity,  firm  faith,  and  joyful 
acquiescence,may  wait  the  accomplishment  of  his  gracious  promise, 
and  say.  Behold  the  servants  of  the  Lord  !  be  it  unto  us  according  to 
his  word  !  So  do  thou,  O  Lord,  animate  and  support  us !  and  the 
weakest  of  thy  children  shall  not  stumble  at  the  greatest  of  thy 
promises  through  unbelief;  but,  being  strong  in  faith,  shall  give 
glory  to  God. 


SECTION  IV. 

LiJKE  I.   39 — 56. 

And  Mary  arose  in  those  days,  and  went  into  the 
hill-country  with  haste,  into  a  city  of  Juda,  and 
entered  into  the  house  of  Zacharias,  and  saluted 
Elisabeth.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Elisabeth 
heard  the  salutation  of  Mary,  the  babe  leaped  in  her 
womb  :  and  Elisabeth  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 
And  she  spake  out  with  a  loud  voice,  and  said. 
Blessed  art  thou  among"  women,  and  blessed  is  the 
fruit  of  thy  womb.  And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that 
the  mother  of  my  Lord  should  come  to  me?  For  lo, 
as  soon  as  the  voice  of  thy  salutation  sounded  in  my 
ears,  the  babe  leaped  in  my  womb  for  joy.  And 
blessed  is  she  that  believed :  for  there  shall  be  a 
performance  of  those  things  which  were  told  her  from 
the  Lord. 

And  Mary  said,  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 
and  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my  Saviour.  For 
he  hath  regarded  the  low  estate  of  his  handmaiden  : 
for  behold,  from  henceforth  all  generations  shall  call 
me  blessed.  For  he  that  is  mighty  hath  done  to  me 
great  things  and  holy  is  his  name.  And  his  mercy 
is  on  them  that  fear  him,  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion.   He  hath  shewed  strength  with  his  arm,  he  hath 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  9 

scattered  the  proud  in  the  imagination  of  their  hearts. 
He  hath  put  down  the  mighty  from  their  seats,  and 
exaUed  them  of  low  degree.  He  hath  filled  the 
hungry  with  good  things,  and  the  rich  he  hath  sent 
empty  away.  He  hath  holpen  his  servant  Israel,  in 
rememberance  of  his  mercy,  as  he  spake  to  our  fathers, 
to  Abraham,  and  to  his  seed  for  ever.  And  Mary 
abode  with  her  three  months,  and  returned  to  her 
own  house. 


How  natural  it  is  fortlioso,  who  have  themselves  received  mercy 
of  the  Lord,  to  conmmnicate  their  joy  to  others,  and  to  seek  the 
society  of  their  fellow  saints,  whom  he  hath  honoured  with  the 
signal  manifestations  of  his  favour  ?  Happy  are  they,  whose 
friendship  is  confirmed  and  heightened  by  such  endearing  ties  ! 
And  thrice  happy  the  humble  and  generous  souls,  who  can  thus, 
like  Elisabeth,  lose  tiie  thoughts  of  private  honour  and  interest  iu 
a  cordial  concern  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  men; 
rejoicing  to  see  others,  perhaps  in  some  respects  their  inferiors, 
raised  to  stations  of  service  more  distinguished  than  their  own! 

If  this  pious  matron  thought  herself  so  highly  honoured  in  re- 
ceiving a  visit  from  the  mother  of  our  infant  Saviour,  how  much 
more  doth  it  become  us  to  admire  tjie  condescension  of  our  glori- 
ous Lord,  that  he  will  represent  himself  as  graciously  knocking 
at  the  door  of  our  hearts,  and  ready  not  only  to  make  us  a  tran- 
sient visit,  but  to   take   up  his  stated  abode  with  us  ? 

May  our  faith,  like  that  of  the  blessed  virgin,  delightfully  rest  on 
all  the  promises  he  makes,  as  firmly  believing  that  there  shall  be  an 
accomplishment  of  these  things  which  are  spoken!  And  while  that 
accomplishment  is  delayed,  may  the  pleasing  expectation  of  it 
tune  our  voice  to  a  song  of  praise  like  her's — Let  our  souls  also 
viagnify  the  Lord,  and  our  spirits  rejoice  in  that  God  whom  we  hope, 
throuiih  grace,  to  be  our  Saviour;  whose  condescension  hath 
regarded  us  in  such  low  circumstances ;  and  whose  almighty 
power  and  everlasting  love  have  done  such  great  things  for  us. — 
He  hath  provided  heavenly  food,  to  satisfy  our  hungry  souls;  and 
hath  raised  lis  to  enjoy  the  mercies  which,  in  more  obscure  intima- 
tions only,  he  promised  to  the  pious  patriarchs. — His  mercy  is  on 
all  that  fear  him,  through  succeeding  generations. — May  such 
distinguished  favours  animate  our  hearts  with  those  sentiments 
of  devotion  and  zeal  which  they  are  so  well  qualified  to  excite! 
otherwise  the  joy  of  the  Old  Testament  Saints,  in  the  distant 
and  imperfect  prospect  of  these  blessings,  will  testify  against  our 
insensibility  in  the  superior  advantages  with  which  we  are 
favoured. 


10  HARMONY    OF    THE 

SECTION    V. 

Matthew  i.   18 — 25. 

Now  the  birth  of  Jesus  Christ  was  on  this  wise  : 
When  as  his  mother  Mary  was  espoused  to  Joseph, 
before  they  came  together,  she  was  found  with  child 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Then  Joseph  her  husband,  being 
a  just  man^  and  not  willing  to  make  her  a  public 
example,  was  minded  to  put  her  away  privily.  But 
while  he  thought  on  these  things,  behold,  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  a  dream,  saying, 
Joseph,  thou  son  of  David,  fear  not  to  take  unto  thee 
Mary  thy  wife  :  for  that  which  is  conceived  in  her,  is 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son, 
and  thou  shalt  call  his  name  JESUS  :  for  he  shall 
save  his  people  from  their  sins,  (Now  all  this  was 
done,  that  it  might  be  fulhlled  Avhich  was  spoken 
of  the  Lord  by  the  prophet,  saying,  Behold  a  virgin 
shall  be  w4th  child,  and  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and 
they  shall  call  his  name  Emm.anuel,  which  being- 
interpreted  is,  God  with  us.)  Then  Joseph  being 
raised  from  sleep,  did  as  the  angel  of,  the  Lord  had 
bidden  him,  and  took  unto  him  his  wife  :  And  knew 
her  not,  till  she  had  brought  forth  her  first-born  son. 

We  see  here,  in  Joseph^  an  excellent  pattern  of  gentleness  and 
prudence.  In  an  affair  which  appeared  dubious,  he  chose,  as  we 
should  always  do,  rather  to  err  on  the  favourable,  than  on  the 
severe  extreme.  He  was  careful  lo  avoid  any  precipitate  steps; 
and  in  the  moments  of  deliberation,  God  interposes  ta guide  and 
determine  his  resolves. 

With  what  wonder  and  pleasure  did  Joseph  receive  these 
glad  tidings  !  With  what  pleasure  should  we  also  receive  them  ! 
For  we  too  are  informed  of  Jesus  who  came  to  save  his  people 
from  their  sins.  An  important  and  glorious  salvation  indeed ! 
Hosanna  to  him  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  Blessed 
Jesus  !  answer  thy  character  in  delivering  us,  not  only  from  sin's 
condemning,  but  from  its  reigning  power! 

Let  our  souls  bow  to  Emmanuel,  our  incarnate  God  ;  and, 
while  with  holy  wonder  we  survey  the  various  scenes  of  his  humil- 
iation, let  us  remember  too  his  native  dignity  and  his  divine  glory. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  H 

By  him  God  hath  fulfilled  his  ancient  promises  in  the  most  ample 
and  glorious  manner,  in  the  fullnes  of  time  sending  forth  his 
Son,  made  of  a  woman,  and  sprung  like  a  tender  shoot  from 
the  decayed  stock  of  David  his  servant. 

While  we  study  the  oracles  of  the  Old  Testament,  let  us  with 
pleasure  trace  the  notices  of  the  great  Messiah  there,  even  of 
Jesus,  to  whom  all  the  prophets  give  witness.  May  his  name 
be  ever  inscribed  upon  our  hearts.  In  that  name  may  we  lift  up 
our  banners,  and  judge  those  reproaches  a  glory  which  we  may 
meet  with  in  his  sacred  cause ! 


SECTION  VI. 

Luke  i.  57 — 66. 

Now  Elisabeth's  full  time  came,  that  she  should  be 
delivered,  and  she  brought  forth  a  son.  And  her 
neig-hbours  and  her  cousins  heard  how  the  Lord  had 
shewed  great  mercy  upon  her  ;  and  they  rejoiced 
with  her.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  eighth 
day  they  came  to  circumcise  the  child  ;  and  they 
called  him  Zacharias,  after  the  name  of  his  father. 
And  his  mother  answered  and  said.  Not  so  ;  but  he 
shall  be  called  John. — And  they  said  unto  her. 
There  is  none  of  thy  kindred  that  is  called  by  this 
name.  And  they  made  signs  to  his  father,  how  he 
would  have  him  called.  And  he  asked  for  a  writing- 
table,  and  wrote,  saying.  His  name  is  John,  and  they 
marvelled  all. — And  his  mouth  was  opened  imme- 
diately, and  his  tongue  loosed,  and  he  spake,  and 
praised  God.  And  fear  came  on  all  that  dwelt  round 
about  them  :  and  all  these  sayings  were  noised  abroad 
throughout  all  the  hill-country  of  Judea.  And  all 
they  that  heard  them,  laid  them  up  in  their  hearts, 
saying,  What  manner  of  child  shall  this  be  ?  And 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  with  hims 

So  sure  are  the  promises  of  God,  and  so  certainly  will  the 
full  accomplishment  of  them  another  day  shame  our  suspicious 
unbelieving  hearts,  and  awaken  the  tongues  of  servants  to  songs 
of  praise !  Happy  the  souls  who,  by  a  lively  faith  in  them,  are 
anticipating  that  blessed  day,  and  whose  minds,  kept  in  tune  by 


12  HARMONY  OF  THE 

these  pleasing  views,  are  opening  themselves  to  the  most  tender 
sympathy  with  others,  and,  like  the  kindred  oi  this  pious  pair,  are 
making  the  religious  joys  of  others  their  own  ;  so  sharing, 
rather  than  envying  the  superior  favours  bestowed  upon  them  ! 

Let  us  learn  with  them,  wisely  to  observe  what  God  is  doing 
around  us  and  to  lay  up  remarkable  occurrences  in  our  hearts  : 
that,  by  comparing  one  step  of  divine  conduct  with  another,  we 
may  the  better  understand  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord,  and  be 
engaged  to  act  with  more  regular  obedience  in  a  holy  subservi- 
ency to  his  gracious  purposes. 

When,  like  good  Zacharias  and  Elisabeth,  we  have  the  pleasure 
to  see  our  infant  offspring  growing  up  in  safety  and  cheerfulness, 
with  healthy  constitutions  of  body  and  towardly  dispositions  of 
mind  too,  let  us  ascribe  it  to  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  which  is  upon 
them  for  good.  Let  us  remember  that  we  are  at  best  but  the  instru- 
ments of  the  divine  care  and  favour  to  them ;  and  that  our  families 
would  soon  become  scenes  of  desolation,  did  not  God  watch  over 
them  in  a  thousand  circumstances  of  danger  and  distress,  which 
no  prudence  of  ours  could  have  foreseen,  and  which  no  care  of 
ours  could  have  been  able  to  provide  against. 


SECTION  VII. 

Luke  i.  67—80. 

And  his  father  Zacharias  was  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  prophesied,  saying,  'Blessed  be  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  for  he  hath  visited,  and  redeemed  his 
people,  and  hath  raised  up  a  horn  of  salvation  for 
us,  in  the  house  of  his  servant  David ;  as  he  spake 
by  the  mouth  of  his  holy  prophets,  which  have  been 
since  the  world  began,  that  we  should  be  saved  from 
our  enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of  all  that  hate  us. 
To  perform  the  mercy  promised  to  our  fathers,  and  to 
remember  his  holy  covenant ;  the  oath  which  he 
sware  to  our  father  Abraham,  that  he  would  grant 
unto  us,  that  we  being  delivered  out  of  the  hand 
of  our  enemies,  might  serve  him  without  fear,  in  holi- 
ness and  righteousness  before  him,  all  the  days  of  our 
life.  And  thou  child  shalt  be  called  the  prophet 
of  the  Highest :  for  thou  shalt  go  before  the  face 
of  the  Lord,  to  prepare  his  ways  ;  to  give  knowledge 
of  salvation  unto  his  people,  by  the  remission  of  their 


FOUR    GOSTELS.  13 

sins,  through  the  tender  mercy  of  our  God  ;  whereby 
the  day-spring  from  on  high  hath  visited  us,  to  give 
light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness,  and  in  the  shadow 
of  death,  to  guide  our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace. 
And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong  inspirit,  and  was 
in  the  deserts  till  the  day  of  his  shewing  unto  Israel. 

With  what  sacred  joy  should  we  join  in  this  hymn  of  praise  ! 
The  blessings  celebrated  in  it  were  not  peculiar  to  the  family  of 
Zacharias  or  to  the  house  of  Israel ;  but  we,  through  Divine  good- 
ness, have  our  share  in  them  :  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  hath  visited 
and  redeemed  us.  He  hath  remembered  his  covenant  with  the 
pious  patriarchs  in  favour  of  millions  who  are  their  seed  only  as 
heirs  of  the  faith  of  Abraham.  To  us  hath  he  accomplished 
the  words  he  had  spoken  by  his  holy  prophets,  and  through  his 
tender  mercies  hath  caused  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  to  arise 
upon  us;  upon  us  who  were  once  indeed  sitting  in  darkness  and 
in  the  shadow  of  death  ;  and  whose  ancestors,  for  many  succeed- 
ing generations,  were  lost  in  ignorance,  idolatry,  and  wickedness. 
Let  us  bless  the  Lord  who  hath  given  us  light,  and  make  it 
our  daily  prayer  that  it  may  be  the  happy  means  of  guiding  our 
feet  into  the  way  of  peace.  Let  us,  with  pleasure  and  thankful- 
ness, receive  the  knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  our 
sins  without  which  we  shall  never  see  it  but  at  an  unapproach- 
able distance. 

Let  us  repose  our  cheerful  confidence  in  this  almighty  Saviour, 
this  Horn  of  Salvation,  which  God's  own  right  hand  hath  raised 
up  for  us  ;  through  him  let  us  seek  the  pardon  of  our  sine,  and 
deliverance  from  all  the  enemies  of  our  souls.  And  let  a  grateful 
sense  of  his  redeeming  love  engage  us  resolutely  to  walk  in  the 
strictest  holiness  and  righteousness,  as  in  the  presence  of  God, 
and  carefully  to  maintain  before  him  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
all  the  days  of  our  lives. 

May  we  carry  this  temper  along  with  us  into  solitude  and 
retirement :  may  it  animate  us  in  the  busiest  scenes  of  life  ;  and, 
in  every  particular  instance,  may  it  determine  us  in  onr  choice 
of  either  and  regulate  our  conduct  in  both] 


SECTION  VIII. 

Luke  ii.  1 — 21. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  there  went 
out  a  decree  from  Caesar  Agustus,  that  all  the  world 
should  be  taxed.     (And  this  taxing  was  first  made 

3 


14  HARMONY    OF    THE 

when  Cyrenius  was  governor   of   Syria.)     And  all 
went  to  be  taxed,  every  one  into  his  own  city.     And 
Joseph  also   went  up  from    Galilee,  out  of  the  city 
of  Nazareth,  into  Judea,  unto  the  city  of  David,  which 
is  called  Bethlehem,  (because  he  was  of  the  house  and 
lineage  of  David,)  to  be  taxed  with  Mary  his  espoused 
wife,  being  great  with  child.      And  so    it  was,  that 
while  they  were  there,    the  days  were  accomplished 
that  she  should  be  delivered.     And  she  broug-ht  forth 
her  first-born  son,  and  wrapped  him  in  swaddling- 
clothes,  and  laid  him  in  a  manger,  because  there  was 
no  room  for  them  in  the  inn.     And  there  were  in  the 
same  country  shepherds  abiding  in  the  field,  keeping 
watch  over  their  flock   by  night.     And  lo,  the  angel 
of  the   Lord  came  upon   them,  and  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  shone   round  about  them,  and  they  were   sore 
afraid.     And  the  angel   said  unto  them,  Fear    not : 
for  behold,  I  bring  you    good  tidings  of  great  joy, 
which  shall  be  to  all  people.     For  unto   you  is  born 
this    day,  in   the    city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is 
Christ  the  Lord.     And  this  shall  he  a  sign  unto  you  ; 
Ye  shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes 
lying  in   a  manger.     And,  suddenly  there  was  with 
the  angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  praising 
God,  and  saying  Glory  to   God  in  the  highest,  and 
on    earth    peace,  good-will    towards   men.      And  it 
came  to  pass,   as  the  angels  were  gone  away  from 
them,  into  heaven,  the  shepherds  said  one  to  another, 
Let  us  now  go   even  unto  Bethlehem,  and  see  this 
thing  which  is  come  to   pass,  which  the   Lord  hath 
made  known  unto  us.     And  they  came  with  haste, 
and  found  Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  babe  lying  in 
a  manger.     And  when  they  had  seen  it,  they  made 
known  abroad  the  saying  which  was  told  them  con- 
cerning  this   child.       And  all  they   that   heard    it, 
wondered  at  those  things  which  were  told  them  by 
the  shepherds.     But  Mary  kept  all  these  things  and 
pondered  them  in  her  heart.     And  the  shepherds  re- 
turned, glorifying  and  praising  God  for  all  the  things 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  15 

that   they  had  heard   and   seen,  as  it   was  told   unto 
them. 

And  when  eight  days  were  accomplished  for  the 
circumcising"  of  the  child,  Joseph  called  his  name 
JESUS,  which  was  so  named  of  the  angel  before  he 
was  conceived  in  the  womb. 

Willi  what  humble  amazement  should  we  contemplate  this 
first  appearance  of  our  Incarnate  Redeemer!  Surely  all  the 
angels  of  heaven  might  justly  have  admired  his  condescension  in 
assuming  such  a  nature  as  ours  and  wearing  a  mortal  frame, 
though  it  had  been  attended  with  all  the  ornaments  and  splen- 
dours earth  could  have  given  it.  Though  at  his  entrance  into 
our  low  world,  he  had  been  born  of  an  imperial  family  placed 
under  a  canopy  of  velvet  and  gold,  or  laid  to  repose  on  pillows  of 
down,  all  this  had  been  deep  abasement  in  the  eyes  of  those 
who  had  beheld  the  glories  of  his  celestial  throne  and  the 
honours  paid  to  him  by  cherubim  and  seraphim;  but,  behold, 
the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Heir  of  all  things,  is  not  merely  in  the 
abodes  of  men,  but  in  a  place  destined  for  beasts;  and,  while 
xorapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  is  laid  tJi  a  manger  ! 

Yet,  O,  blessed  Jesus  how  much  more  venerable  was  that 
stable  and  manger,  when  graced  with  thy  sacred  presence,  than 
the  most  magnificent  palace,  or  most  shining  throne  of  earthly 
princes!  How  ill  doth  it  become  thy  disciples  to  seek  for  them- 
selves great  things  in  this  life,  or  to  be  proud  of  its  pomp  and 
grandeur !  Give  us,  O  God,  the  simplicity  of  children,  and  make 
us  willing  to  be  conformed  to  the  birth  of  thy  Son  as  well  as  to 
his  death ! 

Yet,  mean  as  his  birth  might  appear,  his  Heavenly  Father 
did  not  leave  him  without  witness.  We  see  him,  in  this  wonder- 
ful account  that  the  Evangelist  hath  given  us,  surrounded  with 
a  brighter  lustre  than  a  court  or  a  crown  could  have  afforded. 
Angelic  legions  are  employed  as  herelds  to  proclaim  the  new- 
born King.  And  to  whom  are  they  sent  ?  To  humble  pious 
shepherds,  diligently  employed  in  the  duties  of  their  proper 
calling,  and  loatching  by  night  for  the  security  of  their  flocks. 
Who  would  not  gladly  have  shared  in  their  poverty  and  fatigue, 
to  have  heard  with  them  these  good  tidings  of  great  joy  ? 

Let  us  observe  with  what  delight  these  courtiers  of  heaven 
undertook  the  happy  embassy  to  these  lowly  mortals.  Let  us 
with  pleasure  attend  to  the  anthem  of  these  benevolent  spirits. 
Far  from  envying  the  favour  that  was  done  us,  they  ascribe  glory 
to  God  for  it,  and  take  their  part  in  the  joy  they  gave.  Let  this 
love  of  the  whole  heavenly  host  to  us  awaken  our  love  to  them  and 
our  longing  for  that  blessed  world  where  we  and  they  shall 
surround  our  dearest  Redeemer,  not  in  such  a  form  of  abasement 


16  HARMONY    OF    THE 

as  that  in  which  he  here  appeared,  but  clothed  in  that  celestial 
lustre  with  which  God  hath  rewarded  the  humiliations  of  the  manger 
and  the  cross. 

In  the  mean  time  let  our  more  intimate  concern  in  this  great 
salvation  engage  us  more  cordially  to  join  with  these  blessed 
angels  in  then  hallelujahs ;  ascribing  glory  to  God  in  the  highest  for 
this  ;)cace  071  eari/t,  this  good-will  towards  men,  the  great  fountain 
of  our  present  tranquillity  and  future  hope !  Above  all,  if 
Divine  Grace  hath  conquered  all  the  foolish  prejudices  of  our 
hearts  against  Christ,  and  taught  us  with  humble  faith  to  apply 
to  him,  let  us,  with  the  shepherds,  bless  God  for  the  things  which 
have  been  shewn  us,  and  make  it  our  care  to  spread  abroad  the 
savour  of  his  name,  that  others  may  join  with  us  in  paying  their 
homage  and  their  praises  to  him  ! 


SECTION  IX. 

Matthew  i.  1 — 17. 

( The  Genealogy  relating  to  Joseph.) 

The  book  of  the  generation  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  son 
of  David,  the  son  of  Abraham.  Abraham  begat 
Isaac,  and  Isaac  begat  Jacob,  and  Jacob  begat  Judas 
and  his  brethren.  And  Judas  begat  Pharez  and 
Zara  of  Thamar,  and  Pharez  begat  Esrom,  and 
Esrom  begat  Aram,  and  Aram  begat  Aminadab,  and 
Aminadab  begat  Naasson,  and  Naasson  begat  Sal- 
mon. And  Sahnon  begat  Booz  of  Rachab,  and  Booz 
begat  Obed  of  Ruth,  and  Obed  begat  Jesse.  And 
Jesse  begat  David  the  king,  and  David  the  king 
begat  Solomon  of  her  that  had  been  the  ivlfe  of  Urias. 
And  Solomon  begat  Roboam,  and  Roboaih  begat 
Abia,  and  Abia  begat  Asa.  And  Asa  begat  Josaphat, 
and  Josaphat  begat  Joram,  and  Joram  begat  Ozias. 
And  Ozias  begat  Joatham,  and  Joatham  begat  Achaz, 
and  Achaz  begat  Ezekias.  And  Ezekias  begat  Ma- 
nasses,  and  Manasses  begat  Amon,  and  Amon  begat 
Josias.  And  Josias  begat  Jechonias  and  his  brethren, 
about  the  time  they  were  carried  away  to  Babylon. 
And  after  they  were  brought  to   Babylon,  Jechonias 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  17 

begat  Salathiel,  and  Salathiel  begat  Zerobabel.  And 
Zerobabel  begat  Abiud,  and  Abiud  begat  Eliakim, 
and  Eliakim  begat  Azor.  And  Azor  begat  Sadoc, 
and  Sadoc  begat  Achim,  and  Achim  begat  Eliud. 
And  Eliud  begat  Eleazar,  and  Eleazar  begat  Mat- 
than,  and  Matthan  begat  Jacob,  and  Jacob  begat 
Joseph  the  husband  of  Mary,  of  whom  was  born 
Jesus  who  is  called  Christ.  So  all  the  generations 
from  Abraham  to  David,  are  fourteen  generations  ; 
and  from  David,  until  the  carrying  away  into 
Babylon,  are  fourteen  generations ;  and  from  the 
carrying  away  into  Babylon,  unto  Christ,  are  fourteen 
generations. 

Luke  hi.  23 — 38. 

{The  Genealogy  relating  to  Mary.) 

Jesus  being  (as  was  supposed)  the  son  of  Joseph, 
which  was  the  son  of  Heii,  which  was  the  son  of  Mat- 
that,  which  was  the  son  of  Levi,  which  was  the  son 
of  Melchi,  which  was  the  son  of  Janna,  which  was 
the  son  of  Joseph,  which  was  the  son  of  Matthias, 
which  was  the  son  of  Amos,  which  was  the  son  of 
Naum,  which  was  the  son  of  Esli,  which  was  the  son 
of  Nagge,  which  was  the  son  of  Maath,  which  was 
the  son  of  Mattathias,  w^hich  was  the  son  of  Semei, 
which  was  the  son  of  Joseph,  which  was  the  son  of 
Juda,  which  was  the  son  of  Joanna,  Avhichwas  the  son 
of  Rhesa,  which  was  the  son  of  Zerobabel,  which 
was  the  son  of  Salathiel,  which  was  the  so?i  of  Neri, 
which  was  the  son  of  Melchi,  which  was  the  son  of 
Addi,  which  was  the  son  of  Cosam,  which  was  the  son 
of  Elmodam,  which  was  the  son  of  Er,  which  was  the 
son  of  Jose,  which  was  the  son  of  Eliezer,  which  was 
the  so7iof  Jorim,  v\"hich  was  the  son  of  Maithat,  which 
was  the  son  of  Levi,  which  was  the  son  of  Simeon, 
which  was  the  son  of  Juda,  which  was  the  so7i  of 
Joseph,  which  was  the  son  of  Jonan,  which  was  the 
son  of  Eliakim,  which  was  the  son  of  Melea,  which  was 
the  son   of  Menan,  which  was  the  son  of  Mattatha, 

3* 


18  HARMONY  OF  THE 

which  was  the  son  of  Nathan,  which  was  the  son  of 
David,  which  was  the  so7i  of  Jesse,  which  was  the  son 
of  Obed,  which  was  the  son  of  Booz,  which  was  the 
son  of  Salmon,  which  was  the  son  of  Naasson,  which 
was  the  son  of  Aminadab,  which  was  the  son  of  Aram, 
which  was  the  son  of  Esrom,  which  was  the  son  of 
Pharez,  which  was  the  son  of  Juda,  which  was  the  son 
of  Jacob,  which  was  the  son  of  Isaac,  which  was  the 
son  of  Abraham,  which  was  the  son  of  Thara,  which 
was  the  son  of  Nachor,  which  was  the  so7i  of  Saruch, 
which  was  the  son  of  Ragau,  which  was  the  son  of 
Phalec,  which  was  the  son  of  Heber,  which  was  the 
son  of  Sala,  which  was  the  son  of  Cainan,  which  was 
the  son  of  Arphaxad,  which  was  the  son  of  Sem,  which 
was  the  son  of  Noe,  which  was  the  son  of  Lamech, 
which  was  the  son  of  Mathusala,  which  was  the  son 
of  Enoch,  which  was  the  son  of  Jared,  which  was  the 
son  of  Maleleel,  which  was  the  son  of  Cainan,  which 
was  the  son  of  Enos,  which  was  the  son  of  Seth,  which 
was  the  son  of  Adam,  which  was  the  so?i  of  God. 


"When  we  survey  any  such  series  of  generations,  it  is  obvious 
to  reflect  how  like  the  leaves  of  a  Pree,  one  passeth  away  and  another 
Cometh  ;  yet  the  earth  still  abidethy  and  with  it  the  goodness  of  the 
Lord,  which  runs  on  from  generation  to  generation,  the  common 
hope  of  parents  and  children. 

Of  those  who  formerly  lived  upon  earth,  and  perhaps  made  the 
most  conspicuous  figure  among  the  children  of  men,  how  many 
have  there  been  whose  names  have  perished  with  them  1  and  how 
many  of  whom  nothing  but  theirnrtme5  are  remaining  !  Thus  are 
toe  passing  away,  and  Thus  shall  we  be  shortly  forgotten.  Happy 
if,  while  we  are  forgotten  of  men,  we  are  remembered  by  God, 
and  our  names  are  found  written  in  the  book  of  life  !  There  they 
will  make  a  much  brighter  appearance  than  in  the  records  of 
fame,  or  than  they  would  do  even  in  such  a  catalogue  of  those 
who  were  related  to  Christ  according  to  the  flesh  •  whose  memory 
is  here  preserved,  when  that  of  many,  who  were  once  the  wonder 
and  terror  of  the  mighty  in  the  land  of  the  living,  is  lost  in  per- 
petual oblivion. 

We  observe,  among  these  ancestors  of  Christ,  some  that  were 
Heathens,  and  others  that,  on  different  accounts,  were  of  infamous 
characters  ;  and  perhaps  it  might  be  the  design  of  Providence  that 
we  should  learn  from  it,  or  at  least  should,  on  reading  it,  take  occa- 
sion to  reflect  that  persons  of  all  nations,  and  even  the  chief  of  sinnen 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  19 

amongst  them,  are  encouraged  to  trust  in  him  as  their  Saviour. 
To  him  therefore  let  us  look  even  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  yea, 
from  the  depths  of  guilt  and  distress,  and  the  consequence  will  be 
happy  beyond  all  expression  or  conception. 

Adam,  though  originally  the  son  of  God,  lost  that  inheritance  of 
life  and  glory,  which,  in  consequence  of  such  a  relation  he  might 
reasonably  have  expected  ;  but  the  second  Adam  repairs  the  loss 
which  we  had  sustained  by  the  transgression  of  the  first.  We 
are  now  predestinated  to  the  adoption  of  children  by  Jesus  Christ,  and 
raised  by  him  to  the  hope  of  a  fairer  inheritance  than  the  terres- 
trial Paradise.  Let  it  be  our  daily  labour  to  secure  this  invaluable 
blessing  ;  that  s©,  as  we  have  borne  the  image  of  the  earthly  Adam, 
we  may  in  due  time  bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly,  and  at  length 
attain  to  the  perfect  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God. 


SECTION  X. 

Luke  ii.  22—39. 

And  when  the  days  of  the  purification  of  Mary  ac- 
cording to  the  law  of  Moses  were  accomplished,  they 
brought  Jesus  to  Jerusalem,  to  present  him  to  the 
Lord ;  (as  it  is  written  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  Every 
male  that  openeth  the  womb  shall  be  called  holy  to 
the  Lord ;)  And  to  offer  a  sacrifice,  according  to  that 
which  is  said  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  A  pair  of  turtle- 
doves, or  two  young  pigeons.  And  behold,  there  was 
a  majti  in  Jerusalem  whose  name  was  Simeon ;  and 
the  same  was  just  and  devout,  waiting  for  the  conso- 
lation of  Jsrael :  and  the  Holy  Ghost  was  upon  him. 
And  it  was  revealed  unto  him  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  he  should  not  see  death  before  he  had  seen  the 
Lord's  Christ.  And  he  came  by  the  Spirit  into  the 
temple.  And  when  the  parents  brought  in  the  child 
Jesus,  to  do  for  him  after  the  custom  of  the  law,  then 
took  he  him  up  in  his  arms,  and  blessed  God,  and 
said.  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace,  according  to  thy  word :  For  mine  eyes  have 
seen  thy  salvation,  which  thou  hast  prepared  before 
the  face  of  all  people ;  a  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles, 


20  HARMONY  OF  THE 

and  the  glory  of  thy  people  Israel.  And  Joseph  and 
his  mother  marvelled  at  those  things  which  were 
spoken  of  him.  And  Simeon  blessed  them,  and  said 
unto  Mary  his  mother,  Behold,  this  child  is  set  for 
the  fall  and  rising  again  of  many  in  Israel,  and  for  a 
sign  which  shall  be  spoken  against,  (yea,  a  sword 
shall  pierce  through  thy  own  soul  also,)  that  the 
thoughts  of  many  hearts  may  be  reveald. 

And  there  was  one  Anna  a  prophetess,  the  daughter 
of  Phanuel,  of  the  tribe  of  Aser  :  she  was  of  a  great 
age,  and  had  lived  with  an  husband  seven  years  from 
her  virginity:  and  she  was  a  widow  of  about  four- 
score and  four  years  which  departed  not  from  the 
temple,  but  served  God  with  fasting  and  prayers 
night  and  day.  And  she  coming  in  that  instant  gave 
thanks  likewise  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake  of  him  to 
all  them  that  looked  for  redemption  in  Jerusalem. 

And  when  they  had  performed  all  things  according 
to  the  law  of  the  Lord,  they  returned  into  Galilee,  to 
their  own  city  Nazareth. 

Who  can  behold  the  pious  Simeon,  thus  welcoming  death,  whilst 
he  embraced  his  Saviour,  without  wishing  to  pass  over  the  interme- 
diate moments  of  life  to  meet  so  peaceful  a  dissolution  ?  May 
we,  like  him,  approve  ourselves  the  faithful  servants  of  God  ; 
and  then  we  may  hope  that,  when  our  dismission  comes,  we  shall 
share  in  his  serenity  and  joy  ! 

We  may  comfortably  expect  it,  if  our  eyes  are  now  opened  to 
behold  with  wonder  and  delight  the  great  salvation  he  has  prepared 
for  his  people  ;  and  if  our  hearts,  with  our  lips,  are  frequently 
praising  him  for  this  light  which  he  hath  given  to  lighten  the  Gen- 
tiles as  well  as  to  be  the  glory  of  his  people  Israel. 

As  such  may  Christ  be  universally  owned  and  adoredj  both  by 
Jeivs  and  Gentiles  !  In  the  mean  time,  while  he  is  set  up  as  a 
mark  of  contradiction  and  contempt,  let  us  not  be  ashamed  of  him 
or  of  his  words  :  but  rather  let  those  indignities  which  are  offered 
to  him  be  as  a  sword  to  pierce  through  our  own  souls  !  Let  us 
remember  that  the  gospel,  with  all  the  difficulties  which  attended 
it,  is  the  great  touch-stone  by  which  God  will  try  the  characters 
of  all  to  whom  it  comes  !  May  our  ready  acceptance  of  it,  and 
our  zealous  adherence  to  that  sacred  cause,  approve  the  humble 
sincerity  with  which  we  inquire  into  its  evidence ;  that  Christ  may 
not  be  to  us  a  stone  of  stumbling  and  a  rock  of  offence,  but  rather 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  21 

the  means  of  raising  us  to  God  and  happiness,  even  to  that 
redemption  for  which  they  that  wait  sliall  never  be  ashamed  ! 

Our  circumstances  in  hfe  are  various  :  there  are  comparatively 
few  who  have  such  leisure  for  extraordinary  devotion  as  was  the 
privilege  of  the  pious  vinna  :  where  it  is  found,  let  it  be  valued 
and  improved  :  but  how  great  and  how  many  soever  our  engage- 
ments and  entanglements  in  life  may  be,  let  the  care  of  our  souls 
be  still  our  chief  concern.  Let  us  be  serving  God  in  one  sense  or 
another,  night  and  day  ;  with  prayers,  pouring  out  our  souls  before 
him  morning  and  evening  ;  and  at  proper  seasons  adding  fasting 
to  prayer,  and  public  solemnities  to  private  retirement. 

To  conclude:  let  the  example  of  these  aged  saints  impress  and 
animate  those,  whose  hoary  heads,  like  theirs,  are  a  croxvn  of  glory, 
being  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness.  (Prov.  xvi.  31.)  Let  those 
venerable  lips,  so  soon  to  be  silent  in  the  grave,  be  now  employed 
in  shewing  forth  the  praises  of  their  Redeemer.  Surely  days  shoidd 
speak,  and  the  mxdtitude  of  years  shoidd  teach,  such  wisdom.  (Job 
xxii.  7.)  Such/n/i(  may  they  produce  in  oW  age;  and  may  they 
have  the  pleasure  to  see  all  these  pious  attempts  most  thankfully 
received  by  the  rising  generation,  and  most  gratefully  improved  by 
them  ;  that  they  may  quit  the  world  with  the  greater  tranquillity, 
in  the  view  of  leaving  these  behind  them  to  whom  Christ  shall  be 
as  precious  as  he  has  been  to  them,  and  who  will  be  xcaiting  for 
God's  salvation,  while  they  are  gone  to  enjoy  it !     Amen. 


SECTION  XL 

Matthew  ii.   1 — 12. 

Now  when  .Tesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea,  in 
the  days  of  Herod,  the  king,  behold  there  came  wise 
men  from  the  East  to  Jerusalem,  saying,  Where  is 
he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  ?  for  we  have  seen 
his  star  in  the  East,  and  are  come  to  worship  him. 
When  Herod  the  king  heard  these  things  he  was 
troubled,  and  all  Jerusalem  with  him.  And  when  he 
had  gathered  all  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  of  the 
people  together,  he  demanded,  of  them  where  Christ 
should  be  born.  And  they  said  unto  him,  in  Bethle- 
hem of  Judea  :  for  thus  it  is  written  by  the  prophet; 
And  thou  Bethlehem  in  the  land  of  Juda,  art  not  the 
least  among  the  princes  of  Juda,  for  out  of  thee  shall 
come  a  Governor,  that  shall  rule  my  people   Israel. 


22  HARMONY    OF    THE 

Then  Herod,  when  he  had  privily  called  the  wise 
rnen,  inquired  of  them  diligently  what  time  the  star 
appeared.  And  he  sent  them  to  Bethlehem,  and 
said.  Go  and  search  diligently  for  the  young  child, 
and  when  you  have  found  him,  bring  me  word  again, 
that  I  may  come  and  worship  him  also.  When  they 
had  heard  the  king,  they  departed,  and  lo  !  the  star 
which  they  saw  in  the  east,  went  before  them,  till  it 
came  and  stood  over  where  the  young  child  was. 
When  they  saw  the  star,  they  rejoiced  with  exceeding 
great  joy.  And  when  they  were  come  into  the  house, 
they  saw  the  young  child  with  Mary  his  mother,  and 
fell  down  and  worshipped  him  :  And  when  they 
had  opened  their  treasures,  they  presented  unto  him 
gifts  ;  gold  and  frankincense  and  myrrh.  And  being 
warned  of  God  in  a  dream,  that  they  should  not  return 
to  Herod,  they  departed  into  their  own  country  another 
way. 


Let  us  observe,  with  pleasure,  this  farther  honour  which  God 
did  to  his  only  begotten  Son  in  ordering  a  new  star  to  appear  as  the 
signal  of  his  birth,  and  in  calling  these  illustrions  persons  from 
afar  to  pay  their  early  adorations  to  him.  No  doubt  they  thought 
such  a  discovery,  as  brought  them  to  the  feet  of  their  Infant 
Saviour,  an  ample  recompence  for  all  the  fatigue  and  expense  of 
Buch  a  journey.  They  loere  exceedingly  transported  lohcn  they  saw 
the  star.  So  let  us  sejoice  in  every  thing  which  may  be  a  means 
of  leading  our  souls  to  Christ,  and  of  disposing  us  to  cast  ourselves 
down  before  him  with  humility  and  self-resignation  ! 

Let  us  look  upon  this  circumstance  of  the  sacred  story  as  a 
beautiful  emblem  of  that  more  glorious  state  of  the  Christian 
when  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to  its  light,  and  sages  and  kings  to 
the  brightness  of  its  rising :  when  the  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be 
converted  to  it,  and  the  wealth  of  the  Ge^itiles  shall  be  consecrated  to 
its  honor.  The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  it,  the  dromedaries  of 
Midian  and  Ephah  ;  all  they  from  Sheba  shall  come  ;  they  shall  bring 
gold  and  incense,  and  they  shall  shew  forth  the  praises  of  the  Lord. 
Isa.  Ix.  3,  5,  6. 

How  wonderful  was  the  honour  conferred  upon  so  obscure  a 
town  as  Bethlehem  when  it  was  made  thus  illustrious  among  the 
thousands  of  Judah !  Happy  they  who  consecrate  not  only  their 
gold  and  their  other  possessions,  but  also  their  souls  and  their 
bodies  to  their  great  Ruler,  whose  office  it  is  to  feed  and  govern  the 
Israel  of  God :  under  whose  conduct  and  care  they  shall  receive 


FOUR     GOSPELS.  23 

blessings  infinitely  more  valuable  than  all  the  treasures  of  the  east 
or  the  west ! 

But  oh,  the  fatal  power  of  carnal  influence  on  the  heart!  This 
engaged  Herod  to  receive  the  news  of  the  Redeemer's  birth  with, 
horror;  and  with  execrable  cruelty  and  vile  hypocrisy,  to  contrive 
his  murder  under  the  specious  form  of  doing  him  homage.  Vain 
and  self-confounding  artifice!  Let  us  recjoice  in  the  thought, 
that  there  is  no  understanding,  or  loisdom,  or  counsel  against  the 
Lord:  no  scheme  so  artfully  disguised  liiat  he  cannot  penetrate 
it,  or  so  politically  formed  that  he  cannot  with  infinite  ease  con- 
found it. 

To  what  perplexity  and  grief  might  these  sages  have  been 
brought  had  they  been  made  even  the  innocent  instruments  of  an 
assault  on  this  Holy  Child !  But  God  delivered  them  from  such 
an  alarm,  and  happily  guided  their  return  ;  so  that,  through  his 
care  and  favour,  they  carried  home,  in  the  tidings  of  the  new-born 
Messiah,  far  richer  treasures  than  they  had  left  behind.  Thus 
shall  they,  who  in  all  their  ways  acknowledge  God,  by  one  method 
or  another  find  that  he  will  graciously  direct  their  paths. 


SECTION  XII. 

Matthew  ii.  13 — 23. 

And  when  they  were  departed,  behold,  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  appeareth  to  Joseph  in  a  dream,  saying, 
Arise,  and  take  the  young  child,  and  his  mother,  and 
flee  into  Egypt,  and  be  thou  there  until  I  bring  thee 
word :  for  Herod  w411  seek  the  young  child  to  destroy 
him.  When  he  arose,  he  took  the  young  child  and 
his  mother  by  night,  and  departed  into  Egypt :  And 
was  there  until  the  death  of  Herod :  that  it  might  be 
fulfilled  which  was  spoken  of  the  Lord  by  the  pro- 
phet, saying.  Out  of  Egypt  have  I  called  my  son. 
Then  Herod,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  mocked  of  the 
wise  men,  was  exceeding  Avroth,  and  sent  forth,  and 
slew  all  the  children  that  were  in  Bethlehem,  and  in 
all  the  coasts  thereof,  from  two  years  old  and  under, 
according  to  the  time  which  he  had  diligently  inquired 
of  the  wise  men.  Then  was  that  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  by  Jeremy  the  prophet,  saying.  In  Rama 
was  there  a  voice  heard,  lamentation  and  weeping. 


24  HARMONY    OF    THE 

and  great  mourning",  Rachel  weeping,  for  her  chil- 
dren, and  would  not  be  comforted,  because  they  are 
not.  But  when  Herod  was  dead,  behold,  an  angel  of 
the  Lord  appeareth  to  Joseph  in  a  dream  in  Egypt, 
saying.  Arise,  and  take  the  young  child  and  his 
mother,  and  go  into  the  land  of  Israel :  for  they  are 
dead  which  sought  the  young  child's  life.  And  he 
arose,  and  took  the  young  child  and  his  mother,  and 
came  into  the  land  of  Israel.  But  when  he  heard  that 
Archelaus  did  reign  in  Judea,  in  the  room  of  his  father 
Herod,  he  was  afraid  to  go  thither :  notwithstanding 
being  warned  of  God  in  a  dream,  he  turned  aside  into 
the  parts  of  Galilee  :  And  he  came  and  dwelt  in  a 
city  called  Nazareth,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  by  the  prophets.  He  shall  be  called  a 
Nazarene. 


What  is  our  fallen  nature,  that  it  can  be  capable  of  such  enor- 
mities as  we  have  now  been  surveying !  or  what  imaginable 
circumstances  of  grandeur  and  power  can  free  the  mind  of  an 
ambitious  creature  from  servitude  and  misery  !  Who  can  behold 
Herod  under  the  agitation  of  such  a  barbarous  rage,  and  not  see 
the  vanity  even  of  royal  dignity,  when  the  man  that  sways  the 
sceptre  over  others  hath  no  rule  over  his  oxon  spirit  ?  Surely  none 
of  the  innocent  victims  of  Herod^s  wrath  felt  so  much  from  the 
sword  of  their  barbarous  murderers  as  the  guilty  mind  of  the  tyrant 
from  its  own  unnatural  transports. 

The  indignation  which  ariees  in  our  minds  on  the  view  of  so 
much  wickedness,  finds  a  secret  satisfaction  in  this  thought.  But 
how  griveous  is  it  to  reflect  on  what  the  parents  of  these  poor  babes 
felt  while  the  sword  that  murdered  their  children  in  their  very  sight 
pierced  through  their  own  bowels!  Happy,  in  comparison  with 
these,  were  the  loombs  that  never  bare  and  the  paps  that  never  gave 
suck!  Let  parents  remember  how  soon  their  dearest  hopes  may 
be  turned  into  lamentation,  and  learn  to  moderate  their  expect- 
ation from  their  infant  offspring  and  check  too  fond  a  dehght  in 
them. 

Let  us  learn  to  be  very  thankful  that  we  are  not  under  the 
arbitrary  power  of  a  tyrant,  whose  sallies  of  distracted  fury  might 
spread  desolation  through  houses  and  provinces.  Let  us  not  say, 
Where  was  the  great  Regent  of  the  universe  when  such  a  horrible 
butchery  was  transacted?  His  all-wise  counsels  knew  how  to 
bring  good  out  of  all  the  evil  of  it.  The  agony  of  a  few  moments 
transmitted  these  oppressed  innocents  to  peace  and  joy ;  while 
the  impotent  rage  of  Herod  only  heaped  on  his  own  head  guilt, 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  26 

iafamy,  and  horror.  He  conceived  mischief,  and  he  brought  forth 
vanity,  (Job  xv.  35.)  and  while  he  studied  to  prevent  the  estabUsh- 
ment  of  the  Messiah''s  kingdom,  and  set  himself  with  impious  rage 
against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  Anointed,  He  that  sitteth  in  the 
heavens  did  laugh,  yea,  the  Lord  had  him  in  derision.  (Psalm  ii.  2, 
4.)  That  God,  who  discerns  every  secret  purpose  of  his  enemies, 
and  foresees  every  intended  assault,  knows  how,  whenever  he 
pleases,  by  a  thought,  by  a  dream,  to  baffle  it. 

The  preservation  of  the  holy  child  Jesus  in  Egypt  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  figure  of  God's  care  over  his  church  in  its  greatest 
danger.  God  doth  not  often,  as  he  easily  could,  strike  their 
persecutors  with  immediate  destruction ;  but  he  provides  a  hiding 
place  for  his  people,  and,  by  methods  not  less  effectual,  though 
less  pompous,  preserves  his  chosen  seed  from  being  swept  away, 
even  when  the  enemy  comes  in  like  a  flood. 

Egypt,  that  was  once  the  seat  of  persecution  and  oppression  to 
the  Israel  of  God,  is  now  a  refuge  to  his  So7i ;  and  thus  all  places 
will  be  to  us  what  Divine  providence  will  be  pleased  to  make 
them.  When,  like  Joseph  and  Mary,  we  are  cut  off  from  the 
■worship  of  his  temple  and  perhaps  removed  into  a  strange  land, 
he  can  be  a  little  sanctuary  to  us,  and  give  us,  in  his  gracious 
presence,  a  rich  equivalent  for  all  that  we  have  lost. 

They  continued  here  till  he  gave  the  signal  for  their  departure. 
Let  us,  in  like  manner,  remember  that  it  is  God's  part  to  direct 
and  ours  to  obey  ;  nor  can  we  be  out  of  the  way  oi  safety  and  of 
comfort  while  we  are  following  his  directions,  and  steering  our 
course  by  the  intimations  of  his  pleasure  ! 

Jesus  survived  his  persecutors,  and  returned  into  the  land  of 
Israel  again  ;  but  such  was  his  condescension,  that  he  abode  at 
Jsfazareth,  which  seems  to  have  been  allotted  to  him  as  the  most 
humble  station.  Let  us  never  be  unwilling  to  hear  reproach  for 
him,  who  from  his  infancy  endured  it  for  us  ;  nor  take  offence  at 
the  meanness  of  his  condition,  whose  removes  were  directed 
by  angelic  messengers,  as  immediate  envoys  from  the  God  of 
heaven. 


SECTION  XIII. 

Luke  ii.  40 — 52. 

And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong  in  spirit, 
filled  with  wisdom  :  and  the  grace  of  God  was  upon 
him. 

Now  his  parents  went  to  Jerusalem  every  year  at 
the  feast  of  the  passover.     And  when  he  was  twelve 

4 


26  HARMONY  OF  THE 

years  old,  they  went  up  to  Jerusalem  after  the  custom 
of  the  feast.  And  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  days, 
as  they  returned,  the  child  Jesus  tarried  behind  in 
Jerusalem ;  and  Joseph  and  his  mother  knew  not 
of  it.  But  they  supposing  him  to  have  been  in  the 
company,  went  a  day's  journey  ;  and  they  sought  him 
among  their  kinsfolk  and  acquaintance.  And  when 
they  found  him  not,  they  turned  back  again  to  Jerusa- 
lem, seeking  him.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  after 
three  days  they  found  him  in  the  temple,  sitting  in  the 
midst  of  the  doctors,  both  hearing  them,  and  asking 
them  questions.  And  all  that  heard  him  were  aston- 
ished at  his  understanding  and  answers.  And  when 
they  saw  him,  they  were  amazed  :  and  his  mother  said 
unto  him.  Son,  why  hast  thou  thus  dealt  Avith  us  ? 
behold  thy  father  and  I  have  sought  thee  sorrowing. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  How  is  it  that  ye  sought  me  ? 
wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business  ? 
And  they  understood  not  the  saying  which  he  spake 
unto  them.  And  he  went  down  with  them,  and 
came  to  Nazareth,  and  was  subject  unto  them  :  but 
his  mother  kept  all  these  sayings  in  her  heart.  And 
Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  in  stature,  and  in 
favour  with  God  and  man. 


Let  us,  who  are  heads  of  families,  take  occasion  from  the  story 
before  us  to  renew  our  resolutions  that  icc  and  our  house  will  serve 
the  Lord;  and  remember  that  it  is  a  part  of  our  duty,  not  only  to 
God  but  to  our  domestics,  to  engage  them  with  us  in  his  pubHc 
worship ;  the  pleasures  of  which  will  surely  be  increased  when 
we  see  them,  and,  especially  our  dear  children,  joining  with  us  in 
attendance  on  our  great  common  Father. 

Let  children  view  the  example  of  the  holy  child  Jesus  with  an 
humble  desire  to  copy  after  it.  Let  them  love  the  house  and  ordi- 
nances of  God  and  thirst  for  the  instructions  of  his  good  word. 
Let  them  think  themselves  happy  if  his  servants  in  the  ministry 
will  bestow  a  part  of  their  important  time  in  those  exercises  which 
are  especially  suited  for  their  instruction  ;  and  let  them  not 
only  be  careful  to  return  the  properest  answers  they  can,  but  at 
convenient  times,  with  modesty  and  respect,  ask  such  questions  as 
may  be  likely  to  improve  them  in  knowledge  and  grace. 

Let  those  children,  vyhose  genius  is  most  promising  and  most 
admired,  learn  from  the  blessed  Jesus  to  behave  themselves  in  an 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  27 

humble  and  submissivo  manner  to  all  their  elders  and  especially 
to  ihe'ir  parents  ;  for  though  he  was  Me  Lord  of  all,  yet  was  he 
subject  not  only  to  J\Iary  his  real  mother,  but  to  Joseph,  though 
only  supposed  to  be  h\s  father.  Such  children  may  well  hope  that 
the  grace  ofGodwiW  still  be  upon  them;  diUd,  growing  in  wisdom 
as  they  do  in  stature,  they  will  also  advance  i?i  favour  with  God 
and  men,  and  be  the  darlings  of  heaven  as  well  as  of  earth. 

And,  oh,  that  the  greatest  and  wisest  of  us,  those  of  the  long- 
est standing  and  of  the  most  eminent  stations  in  the  church, 
might  learn  of  this  admirable  and  divine  child  ;  that,  always 
remembering  our  relation  to  God,  and  ever  intent  on  learning  his 
will  and  promoting  his  glory,  we  might,  with  humble  acquies- 
cence, accommodate  ourselves  to  all  the  disposals  of  his  provi- 
dence !  How  easily  could  he,  who  discovered  such  early  marks 
of  a  sublime  genius  and  a  lively  wit,  have  relished  the  most 
elegant  delights  of  science  and  have  eclipsed  all  the  most  cele- 
brated poets,  orators,  and  philosophers  of  that  learned  and  polite 
age !  But  he  laid  all  those  views  aside,  that  he  might  pursue  the 
duties  of  that  humble  rank  of  life  which  his  heavenly  Father^s 
infinite  wisdom  had  assigned  him  ;  and  joined,  as  it  would  seem, 
to  assist  in  maintaining  himself  and  his  parents  too  by  the  daily 
labour  of  his  hands.  Let  us  learn  from  hence,  that  it  is  the  truest 
greatness  of  soul  to  know  our  own  place  and  office,  and  to  deny 
ourselves  those  amusements  of  the  mind,  as  well  as  those  gratifi- 
cations of  the  senses,  which  arc  inconsistent  with  the  proper 
services  of  our  difl^erent  relations  and  callings. 


PART    II. 


MATTHEW  III.  IV.  V.  VII.  VIII.  1.— 4, 14—17, 
IX.  2— 8.— MARK  I.  II.  1—22.— LUKE  III. 
1—23.  IV.  V. 

IN  WHICH  IS  CONTAINED  THE  PERIOD  OF  EIGHTEEN 
MONTHS,  FROM  THE  BEGINNING  OF  J(?IIN  THE 
baptist's  PREACHING,  IN  THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE 
YEAR  TWENTY-SIX,  TO  THE  END  OF  THE  FIRST 
year's  PREACHING  OF  OUR  LORD,  IN  THE  BEGIN- 
NING  OF  THE   YEAR   TWENTY-EIGHT. 


>■ 


'k 


HARMONY  OF  THE  FOUR  GOSPELS.  31 


SECTION  I. 

John  i.  1 — 18. 

In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God.  The  same  was 
in  the  beginning  Avith  God.  All  things  were  made 
by  him;  and  without  him  was  not  any  thing  made 
that  was  made.  In  him  was  life,  and  the  life  was  the 
light  of  men.  And  the  light  shineth  in  darkness  ; 
and  the  darkness  comprehended  it  not. 

There  was  a  man  sent  from  God,  whose  name  tvas 
John.  The  same  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear  witness 
of  the  light,  that  all  men  through  him  might  believe. 
He  was  not  that  light,  but  was  sent  to  bear  witness  of 
that  light.  That  was  the  true  light,  which  lighteth 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.  He  was  in 
the  world,  and  the  world  was  made  by  him,  and  the 
world  knew  him  not.  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his 
own  received  him  not.  But  as  many  as  received  him, 
to  them  gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even 
to  them  that  believe  on  his  name :  which  were  born,  not 
of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of 
man,  but  of  God.  And  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and 
dwelt  among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory 
as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of  grace 
and  truth.  John  bare  witness  of  him  and  cried, 
saying.  This  was  he  of  whom  I  spake,  He  that 
cometh  after  me  is  preferred  before  me  ;  for  he  was 
before  me.  And  of  his  fulness  have  all  we  received, 
and  grace  for  grace.  For  the  law  was  given  by 
Moses,  but  grace  and  truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ. 


32  HARMONY    OF    THE 

No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time  ;  the  only  begot- 
ten Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath 
declared  him. 

Justly  hath  our  Redeemer  said,  Blessed  is  the  man  that  is  not 
offended  in  me ;  and  we  may  pecuharly  apply  the  words  to 
that  great  and  glorious  doctrine  of  the  deity  of  Christ,  which  is 
here  before  us.  A  thousand  high  and  curious  thoughts  will 
naturally  arise  in  our  corrupt  hearts  on  this  view  of  it ;  but  may 
Divine  Grace  subdue  them  all  to  the  obedience  of  an  humble 
faith  ;  so  that,  with  Thomas,  we  may  each  of  us  fall  down  at  his 
feet,  and  cry  out  with  sincere  and  unreserved  devotion,  J\Iy  Lord 
and  my  God ! 

Let  us  adore  him  as  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all,  the 
overflowing  fountain  of  light  and  life.  Let  us  with  unutterable 
pleasure  hail  this  Sim  of  righteousness,  whose  rays  by  the  tender 
mercies  of  the  Father,  have  visited  our  benighted  world  to  guide 
our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace ;  and  while  we  lament  that  the  dark- 
ness  hath  not  apprehended  and  received  him,  let  us  earnestly  pray 
that  he  may  ere  long  penetrate  every  cloud  of  ignorance  and 
mist  of  error,  and  may  diffuse  among  all  the  nations  knowledge 
and  grace,  purity  and  joy.  Let  us  especially  pray  that  he  may 
penetrate  our  beclouded  souls  ;  and  that  they  may,  in  holy  cor- 
respondence to  the  purposes  of  his  appearing,  be  turned  as  clay  to 
the  seal.  Job  xxxviii.  14. — The  world  knew  him  not ;  but  may  we 
know  him,  and  give  him  that  honourable  and  grateful  reception 
which  so  great  a  favour  may  justly  demand  ! — Yet  what  returns 
can  be  proportionable  to  his  condescension  in  becoming  flesh  for 
us,  and  pitching  his  tabernacle  among  miserable  and  sinful  mor- 
tals?— Happy  apostles  that  beheld  his  glory  !  And  surely  there 
are  in  his  word  such  reflections  of  it  as  we  may  also  behold,  and 
as  will  oblige  us  to  acknowlegde  it  to  be  a  glory  that  became  the 
Only-begotten  of  the  Father. 

Let  us  cordially  receive  him  as  fidl  of  grace  and  truth,  that  we 
also  may  stand  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  God's  children.  And 
if  we  are  already  of  that  happy  number,  let  us  not  arrogate  the 
glory  of  it  to  ourselves,  or  ascribe  it  entirely  to  those  who  have 
been  the  instruments  of  this  important  change  ;  but  remember 
that  of  his  own  will  God  hath  begotten  us  by  the  word  of  his  power j 
and  that  of  him  we  are  of  Christ  Jesus ;  to  him  then  let  us  refer 
the  ultimate  praise,  if  that  divine  and  almighty  Saviour  be  made 
unto  us  wisdom  and  righteousnes  and  sanctification  and  redemption. 
1  Cor.  i.  30. 

Happy  are  they  that,  (like  this  beloved  apostle,)  when  they 
hear  the  praises  of  Christ  uttered  by  others,  can  echo  back  the 
testimomy  from  their  own  experience,  as  having  themselves 
received  of  his  fidness  !  May  an  abundance  of  grace  be  commu- 
nicated from  him  to  us !     We  are  not  straitened  in  him ;  oh,  may 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  && 

we  not  be  straiUned  in  ourselves ;  but  daily  renewing  our  appli- 
cation to  him  as  our  Living  Head,  may  vital  influences  be  con- 
tinually imparted  to  our  souls  from  him  ! 

With  pleasure  let  us  compare  the  dispensation  of  Jesus  with 
that  of  Moses,  and  observe  the  excellency  of  its  superior  grace 
and  of  its  hrighier  tndh ;  but  let  us  remember,  as  a  necessary 
consequence  of  this,  that  if  the  despisers  ofJMoses^s  law  died  without 
mercy,  they  shall  be  thought  loorthy  of  a  much  sorer  punishment  and 
a  more  aggravated  condemnation  who  tread  uiider  foot  the  Son  of 
God.     Heb.  x.  28,  29. 

May  we  ever  regard  him  as  the  Only-Begotten  of  the  Father; 
and,  since  he  hath  condescended  so  far  as  to  come  down  from  his 
very  bosom  to  instruct  us  in  his  nature  and  will,  let  us  with  all 
humility  receive  his  dictates  and  earnestly  pray,  that  under  his 
revelations  and  teachings,  we  may  so  knoic  God  as  fully  to  serve 
him  now,  and  at  length,  eternally  to  enjoy  him. 


SECTION  II. 

Matt.  hi.  1 — 4. — Mark  i.  2 — 4. — Luke  hi.  1 — 6. 

Now  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Tiberius 
Cesar,  Pontius  Pilate  being  governor  of  Judea,  and 
Herod  being  tetrarch  of  Galilee,  and  his  brother 
Philip,  tetrarch  of  Iturea,  and  of  the  region  of 
Trachonitis,  and  Lysanias  the  tetrarch  of  Abilene, 
Annas  and  Caiaphas  being  the  high  priests,  the  word 
of  God  came  unto  John  the  son  of  Zacharias  in  the 
wilderness  of  Judea.  And  he  came  into  all  the 
country  about  Jordan,  preaching  the  baptism  of 
repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins.  And  saying, 
Repent  ye :  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand. 
As  it  is  written  in  the  prophets,  Behold  I  send  my 
messenger  before  thy  face,  which  shall  prepare  thy 
way  before  thee.  For  this  is  he  that  was  spoken 
of  by  the  prophet  Esaias,  saying.  The  voice  of  one 
crying  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  Every  valley  shall  be 
filled,  and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  brought 
low  ;  and  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the 
rough  ways  shall  be  made  smooth  ;  and  all  flesh 
shall  see  the  salvation  of  God. 


34  HARMONY    OF    THE 

And  the  same  John  had  his  raiment  of  camel's 
hair,  and  a  girdle  of  a  skin  about  his  loins,  and  his 
meat  was  locusts  and  wild  honey. 

It  is  surely  matter  of  unspeakable  thankfulness  that  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  should  be  erected  among  men  !  that  the  great  God 
should  condescend  so  far  as  to  take  to  himself  a  people  from  our 
mean  and  sinful  world,  and  appoint  his  own  Son  to  be  the  gov- 
ernor of  that  kingdom !  How  happy  are  we  that  it  is  preached 
among  us  and  we  are  called  into  it !  Let  it  be  our  great  care 
that  we  be  not  only  nominal  but  real  members  of  it. 

For  this  purpose  let  us  remember  and  consider  that,  to  become 
the  subjects  of  this  kingdom,  we  are  to  enter  it  by  the  way  of 
repentance ;  humbly  confessing  our  sins,  and  resolutely  forsaking 
them,  if  we  do  indeed  desire  to  find  mercy. 

Let  us  bless  God,  both  for  the  promises  of  pardon  and  for  the 
appointment  of  the  seals  of  it,  particularly  of  baptismal  vj ashing  ; 
always  remembering  the  obligation  it  brings  upon  us  to  cleanse 
ourselves  from  all  fiUhiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness 
in  the  fear  of  God.     2  Cor.  vii.  1. 

And,  being  ourselves  become  members  of  Christ^s  kingdom,  let 
us  pray  that  it  may  be  every  where  extended.  May  Divine  Grace 
remove  every  obstruction,  and  make  a  free  course  for  his  gospel, 
that  it  may  every  where  run  and  be  glorified,  so  that  all  flesh  may 
see  the  salvation  of  God  ! 


SECTION  III. 

Matt.  hi.  5 — 12. — Mark  i.  7 — 8. — Luke  hi.  7 — 20. 

Then  went  out  to  him  Jerusalem,  and  all  the  land 
of  Judea,  and  all  the  region  round  about  Jordan, 
and  were  all  baptized  of  him  in  the  river  of  Jordan, 
confessing  their  sins.  But  when  he  saw  many  of  the 
Pharisees  and  Sadducees  come  to  his  baptism,  he 
said  unto  them,  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath 
warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ?  Bring 
forth  therefore  fruits  worthy  of  repentance.  And 
think  not  to  say  within  yourselves.  We  have 
Abraham  to  our  father :  for  I  say  unto  you,  that  God 
is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children  unto 
Abraham.  And  now  also  the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  35 

of  the  trees :  every  tree  therefore  which  bringeth 
not  forth  good  fruit,  is  hewn  down  and  cast  into  the 
fire.  And  the  people  asked  him,  saying,  What  shall 
we  do  then  ?  He  answereth,  and  saith  unto  them. 
He  that  hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that 
hath  none  ;  and  he  that  hath  meat,  let  him  do  like- 
wise. Then  came  also  publicans  to  be  baptized,  and 
said  unto  him.  Master,  Avhat  shall  we  do  ?  And  he 
said  unto  them.  Exact  no  more  than  that  which  is 
appointed  you.  And  the  soldiers  likewise  demanded 
of  him,  saying.  And  what  shall  we  do  ?  And  he  said 
unto  them.  Do  violence  to  no  man,  neither  accuse 
any  falsely,  and  be  content  with  your  wages.  And 
as  the  people  were  in  expectation,  and  all  men 
mused  in  their  hearts  of  John,  whether  he  were  the 
Christ  or  not ;  John  answered,  saying  unto  them  all, 
I  indeed  baptize  you  with  water  unto  repentance  ;  but 
he  that  cometh  after  me  is  misfhtier  than  I,  the 
latchet  of  whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  stoop  down 
and  unloose,  whose  shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  bear  ; 
He  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with 
fire.  Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will  thorough- 
ly purge  his  floor,  and  will  gather  the  wheat  into 
his  garner ;  but  he  will  burn  up  the  chaff  with 
unquenchable  fire.  And  many  other  things  in  his 
exhortation  preached  he  unto  the  people.  But  Herod 
the  tetrarch  being  reproved  by  John  for  Herodias  his 
brother  Philip's  wife,  and  for  all  the  evils  which 
Herod  had  done,  added  yet  this  above  all,  that  he  shut 
up  John  in  prison. 

What  an  excellent  pattern  of  ministerial  service  does  John 
exhibit  in  the  passage  before  us  !  Blessed  is  that  gospel  preacher 
who,  like  him,  seeks  not  his  own  ease  and  pleasure  and  indulges 
not  too  luxurious  and  sensual  inclinations,  but  cheerfully  accom- 
modates himself  to  the  state  and  circumstances  which  Providence 
hath  assigned  him,  as  infinitely  more  intent  on  the  success  of  his 
ministry  than  on  any  little  interest  of  his  own  that  can  interfere 
with  it ! — Happy  the  man  who,  imitating  the  impartiality  of  this 
faithful  servant  of  God,  giveth  to  every  one  his  portion  of  meat  in 
due  season,  and  abhors  the  thoughts  of  flattering  men  in  their 


36  HARMONY  OF  THE 

vices  or  buoying  them  up  with  delusive  hopes  in  their  birth  and 
profession,  while  they  are  destitute  of  real  and  vital  religion  ! 

May  this  plain  and  awakening  address  be  felt  by  every  soul 
that  hears  it !  And,  in  particular,  let  the  children  of  religious 
parents,  let  those  that  enjoy  the  most  eminent  privileges  and  that 
make  even  the  strictest  profession,  weigh  themselves  in  this 
balance  of  the  sanctuary,  lest  they  be  found  toa7iting  in  the  awful 
decisive  day.  And  if  the  warnings  of  the  gospel  have  alarmed 
our  hearts,  and  puts  us  upon  feeing-  from  the  wrath  to  come,  oh,  let 
the  terrors  of  the  Lord  engage  us  not  only  to  confess  but  io  forsake 
our  sins,  and  to  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance ! 

Let  all,  to  whom  the  gospel  message  comes,  most  attentively 
and  seriously  consider  in  what  alarming  circumstances  of  danger 
and  extremity  impenitent  sinners  are  here  represented.  The  gospel 
is  the  last  dispensation  we  must  ever  expect ;  the  axe  is  at  the 
root  of  the  unfruitful  tree,  and  it  must  ere  long  be  cut  down  and 
burnt,  be  its  branches  ever  so  diffusive  and  its  leaves  ever  so 
green. 

Christ  hath  a  fan  in  his  hand  to  winnow  us,  as  well  as  the  Jews. 
O  that  we  may  stand  the  trial !  And  O  that,  as  his  xoheat,  we  may 
be  laid  up  in  the  store-house  of  heaven  when  that  day  cometh  which 
shall  burn  as  an  oven,  and  when  all  that  do  wickedly  shall  be  con- 
sumed as  stubble,  and  be^bwnt  up  as  chaff!     Mai.  iv.  1. 

And  to  conclude:  that  we  may  be  prepared  for  that  final  trial, 
let  us  be  earnest  in  our  applications  to  our  gracious  Redeemer, 
that  as  we  are  baptized  with  water  in  his  name,  he  would  also 
baptize  us  xoith  the  Holy  Ghost  and  icithfire  ;  that,  by  the  operations 
of  his  Holy  Spirit  on  our  cold  and  stupid  hearts,  he  would  enkin- 
dle and  quicken  that  Divine  life,  that  sacred  love,  that  flaming, 
yet  well-governed  zeal  for  his  glory,  which  distinguishes  the  true 
Christian  from  the  hypocritical  professor,  and  is  indeed  the  seal  of 
God  set  upon  the  heart  to  mark  it  for  eternal  happiness. 


SECTION  IV. 

Matthew  hi.  13 — 17. — Mark  i.  9 — 11. — Luke  hi. 

21—23. 

It  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  when  all  the  people 
were  baptized,  that  Jesus  came  from  Nazareth  of 
Galilee  to  Jordan  unto  John,  to  be  baptized  of  him. 
But  John  forbad  him,  saying,  I  have  need  to  be 
baptised  of  thee,  and  comest  thou  to  me  ?     And  Jesus 


FODR  GOSPELS.  37 

answering  said  unto  him,  Suffer  it  io  be  so  now :  for 
thus  it  becometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righteousness.  Then 
he  suffered  him.  And  he  Avas  baptized  of  John  in 
Jordan.  And  Jesus,  when  he  w^as  baptized,  went  up 
straightway  out  of  the  water,  and  praying.  And  lo, 
the  heavens  were  opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw  the 
Spirit  of  God,  in  a  bodily  shape,  descending  like  a 
dove,  and  lighting  upon  him.  And  lo,  a  voice  came 
from  heaven,  which  said.  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I  am  well  pleased.  And  Jesus  himself  began 
to  be  about  thirty  years  of  age. 

Let  our  Lord's  submitting  himself  to  6fl/)i?5»i  teach  us  a  holy 
exactness  and  care  in  the  observance  ofthose  positive  institutions 
which  owe  their  obligations  merely  to  a  Divine  command  ;  for 
thus  it  also  becometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righieousness  ;  lest  by  breaking 
one  of  the  least  of  Christ's  commandments,  and  teaching  others  to  do 
it,  we  become  unworthy  of  a  part  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
(Matt.  V.  19.) 

Jesus  had  no  sin  to  confess  or  wash  away,  yet  he  was  baptized; 
and  God  owned  that  ordinance  so  far  as  to  make  it  the  season  of 
pouring  forth  the  Spirit  upon  him.  And  where  can  we  expect  this 
sacred  effusion,  but  in  a  conscientious  and  humble  attendance  on 
Divine  appointments? 

Let  us  remember  in  how  distinguishing  a  sense  Jesxis  is  the 
Christ,  the  annointed  of  God,  to  whom  the  Father  hath  not  given  the 
Spirit  by  measure,  but  hath  poured  it  out  upon  him  in  the  most 
abundant  degree.  Let  us  trace  the  workings  of  this  Spirit  in 
Jesus,  not  only  as  a  Spirit  of  miraculous  power,  but  of  the  richest 
grace  and  holiness;  earnestly  praying  that  this  holy  unction  may, 
from  Christ  our  head,  descend  upon  our  souls  !  May  his  enlivening 
Spirit  kindle  its  sacred  flame  there  with  such  vigour  thai  mariy 
waters  may  not  be  able  to  quench  it,  nor  floods  of  temptation  and 
corruption  to  droicn  it. 

Behold  God's  beloved  Son  in  whom  he  is  icell pleased!  As  such 
let  us  honour  and  love  him  ;  and,  as  such,  let  our  souls  acquiesce 
in  him,  as,  in  every  respect,  such  a  Saviour  as  our  wishes  might 
have  asked  and  our  necessities  required. 

Wit!)  what  amazement  should  we  reflect  upon  it  that  the 
blessed  J'es7(s,  though  so  early  ripened  for  the  most  extensive  ser- 
vices, should  live  in  retirement  even  till  his  thirtieth  year  !  That 
he  deferred  his  ministry  so  long  should  teach  us  not  to  thrust  our- 
selves forward  to  public  stations  till  we  are  qualified  for  them,  and 
plainly  discover  a  Divine  call  ;  that  he  deferred  it  no  longer 
should  be  an  engagement  to  us  to  avoid  unnecessary  delays,  and 
to  give  God  the  prime  and  vigour  of  our  life. 

Our  Great  Master  attained  not,  as  it  seems,  to  the  conclusion 

5 


38  HARMONY    OF  THE 

of  his  thirty-fifth  year,  if  he  so  much  as  entered  upon  it ;  yet  what 
glorious  achievements  did  he  accompUsh  within  these  narrow 
hmits  of  lime!  Happy  that  servant  who,  with  any  proportionable 
zeal,  dispatches  the  great  business  of  life  !  so  much  the  more 
happy  if  his  siin  go  down  at  noon;  for  the  space  that  is  taken  from 
the  labours  of  time  will  be  added  to  the  rewards  of  eternity. 


SECTION  V. 

Matthem'    IV.    1 — 11. — Mark   i.    12 — 13. — Luke 
IV.   1—13. 

And  Jesus  being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  returned 
from  Jordan,  and  immediately  the  Spirit  driveth  him 
into  the  wilderness  to  be  tempted  of  the  devil.  And 
he  was  there  in  the  wilderness  with  the  wild  beasts, 
being  forty  days  tempted  of  the  devil.  And  in 
those  days  he  did  eat  nothing.  And  when  he  had 
fasted  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  he  was  after- 
wards an  hungered.  And  when  the  tempter,  the 
devil,  came  to  him,  he  said,  If  thou  be  the  Son  of 
God,  command  that  these  stones  be  made  bread. 
But  he  answered  and  said,  It  is  written,  Man  shall 
not  live  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  pro- 
ceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God.  Then  the  devil 
taketh  him  up  into  the  holy  city,  and  setteth  him  on 
a  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  and  saith  unto  him.  If  thou 
be  the  Son  of  God,  cast  thyself  down  :  for  it  is  writ- 
ten, He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  concerning  thee 
to  keep  thee,  and  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee 
up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a 
stone.  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  It  is 
written  again,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God.  Again,  the  devil  taketh  him  up  into  an  ex- 
ceeding high  mountain,  and  sheweth  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  Avorld,  and  the  glory  of  them,  in  a 
moment  of  time  :  and  saith  unto  him.  All  these  things, 
and  all  this  power,  and  the  glory  of  them,  will  I  give 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  39 

ilice  ;  for  that  is  delivered  unto  me,  and  to  whomso- 
ever I  will,  I  give  it.  If  thou  therefore  wilt  fall 
down  and  worship  me,  all  these  things  will  I  give 
thee,  and  all  shall  Ije  thine.  Then  sailh  Jesus  unto 
him,  Get  thee  behind  me  Satan  :  for  it  is  written. 
Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only 
shalt  thou  serve.  Then  when  the  devil  had  ended 
all  the  temptation,  he  leaveth  him,  and  departed 
from  him  for  a  season.  And  behold,  angels  came 
and  ministered  unto  him. 


Who  can  read  this  account  without  amazement,  when  ho 
compares  ttie  insolence  and  mahce  of  the  prince  of  darkness  with 
the  condescension  and  grace  of  the  Son  of  God  ! 

What  was  it  that  animated  and  emboldened  Saiun  to  undertake 
such  a  work  ?  Was  it  the  easy  victory  he  had  obtained  over  the 
first  Adam  in  Paradise?  or  was  it  the  remenibranc-j  otliis  oiaifall, 
from  whence  he  arrogantly  concluded  that  no  htart  could  stand 
against  the  temptations  of  pride  and  ambition  ?  Could  he,  who 
afterwards  proclaimed  Christ  to  be  tke  Son  of  the  J\Iost  High  God, 
and  had  perhaps  but  lately  heard  him  owned  as  such  by  a  voice 
from  heaven,  make  any  doubt  of  his  Divinity  ?  Or,  if  he  actually 
believed  it,  could  he  expect  to  vanquish  him  ?  We  n)ay  rather 
conclude  that  he  did  not  expect  it ;  but  mad  with  rage  and 
despair,  he  was  determined  at  least  to  worry  that  Lamb  of  God 
which  he  knew  he  could  not  devour  ;  and  to  vex  with  his  hellish 
suggestions,  that  innocent  and  holy  soul  which  he  knew  he  could 
never  seduce.  Wretched  degeneracy  !  Hoic  art  thou  fditn,  0 
Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning  !  to  be  thus  eagerly  driving  on  thine 
own  repulse  and  disgrace  ! 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  how  highly  are  we  obliged  to  our 
Great  Deliverer,  who  hath  Ijrought  forth  meat  out  of  the  eater,  and 
sweetness  out  of  the  strong  !  who  can  sufficiently  adore  thy  conde- 
scension, 0  blessed  Jesus  ?  who  wouldst  permit  thyself  to  be  thus 
assaulted  and  led  from  place  to  place  by  an  infernal  spirit,  whom 
thou  couldest  in  a  moment  have  remanded  to  hell  to  be  bound  in 
chains  of  darkness  and  overwhelmed  with  flaming  ruin  ! 

The  apostle  tells  us  why  he  permitted  this :  it  was  that  having 
himself  suffered,  being  tempted,  he  might  by  this  experience  that  he 
had  of  Satan^s  subtilty,  and  of  the  strength  of  his  temptations, 
contract  an  additional  tenderness  and  be  the  more  inclined,  as  well 
as  better  able  to  succour  us  when  ive  are  tempted.  (Heb.  li.  18.) 
Let  this  embolden  us  to  come  unto  the  throne  of  grace,  io  obtain  mercy, 
and  find  grace  to  help  in  the  time  of  need.     (Heb.  iv.  16.) 

Let  us  remember  and  imitate  the  conduct  of  the  Great  Captain 
of  our  Salvation  ;  and,  like  him  let  us  learn  to  resist  Satan,  that  he 
may  flee  from  us.     Like  C/tm<,  let  ua  maintain   such  an  humble 


40  HARMONY  OF  THE 

dependance  on  the  Divine  blessing  as  never  to  venture  out  of  the 
way  of  it,  be  the  necessity  ever  so  urgent :  nor  let  us  ever  expose 
ourselves  to  unnecessary  danger,  in  expectation  of  extraordinary 
deliverance.  Like  him  let  us  learn  to  overcome  the  loorld,  and  to 
despise  all  its  pomps  and  vanities  when  offered  at  the  price  of  our 
innocence. 

To  furnish  us  for  such  a  combat,  let  us  take  the  sword  of  the 
spirit,  which  is  the  ward  of  God.  Let  us  not  only  make  ourselves 
familiarly  acquainted  with  the  words  of  scripture,  but  let  us  study 
to  enter  into  the  true  design  and  meaning  of  it ;  that  so,  if  Satan 
should  attempt  to  draw  his  artillery  from  thence,  we  may  be  able 
to  guard  against  that  most  dangerous  stratagem,  and  to  answer 
perverted  passages  of  holy  writ  by  others  more  justly  applied. 

Once  more  ;  when  the  suggestions  of  Satan  grow  most  horrible, 
let  us  not  conclude  that  we  are  utterly  abandoned  by  God, 
because  we  are  proved  by  such  a  trial;  since  Christ  himself  was 
tempted  even  to  worship  the  infernal  tyrant.  But  in  such  cases  let 
us  resolutely  repel  the  solicitation,  rather  than  parley  with  it,  and 
say  in  imitation  of  our  Lord^s  example,  and  with  a  dependance  on 
his  grace.  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan. 

If  our  conflict  be  thus  maintained,  the  struggle  will  ere  long  be 
over;  and  angels,  who  are  now  the  spectators  of  the  combat,  will 
at  length  congratulate  our  victory. 


SECTION  VI. 

John  i.   19—28. 

And  this  is  the  record  of  John,  when  the  Jews  sent 
priests  and  levites  from  Jerusalem  to  ask  him,  Who 
art  thou?  And  he  confessed  and  denied  not,  but 
confessed,  I  am  not  the  Christ.  And  they  asked  him, 
What  then  ?  Art  thou  Elias  ?  And  he  saith,  I  am  not. 
Art  thou  that  prophet  ?  And  he  answered,  No.  Then 
said  they  unto  him,  Who  art  thou  ?  that  we  may  give 
an  answer  to  them  that  sent  us  :  What  sayest  thou 
of  thyself?  He  said,  I  a7n  the  voice  of  one  crying  in 
the  v/ilderness,  Make  straight  the  way  of  the  LiOrd, 
as  said  the  prophet  Esaias.  And  they  which  were 
sent  were  of  the  Pharisees.  And  they  asked  him, 
and  said  unto  him,  Why  baptizest  thou  then,  if  thou 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  41 

be  not  that  Christ,  nor  Elias,  neither  that  prophet  ? 
John  answered  them  saying,  1  baptize  with  water  ; 
but  there  standcth  one  among  you,  whom  ye  know 
not :  He  it  is,  who  coming  after  me,  is  preferred 
before  me,  whose  shoe's  latchet  I  am  not  worthy  to 
unloose.  These  things  were  done  in  Betiiabara, 
beyond  Jordan,  where  John  was  baptizing. 

How  remarkably  were  the  words  of  our  blessed  Redeemer 
fulfilled  in  Jolm,  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted  !  (Luke 
xviii.  11.)  He  declined  assuniing  the  name  of  any  of  the  servants 
of  God  among  the  prophets ;  and  yet  our  Lord  bore  testimony  to 
him  as  of  a  higher  rank  than  any  of  the  prophets,  than  whom 
there  was  none  greater  among  those  that  had  in  a  natural  way  been 
born  of  women.     (Luke  vii.  28.) 

Did  John,  this  great  and  illustrious  saint,  speak  of  himself  as 
umcorthy  to  untie  even  the  sandals  of  Christ;  wliat  reverence  then 
do  we  owe  him  ;  and  what  reason  have  we  to  admire  his  conde- 
scension, that  he  should  honour  us,  who  are  so  mucli  more  umcor- 
thy, with  the  title  of  his  servants  ? 

Let  not  any,  the  most  distinguished  of  that  happy  number 
wonder  if  they  bo  unlaioicn  by  the  world,  and  perhaps  too,  slighted 
and  despised  ;  since  it  appears  that  even  Jesus  himself,  not  only 
at  his  first  appearance  stood  wiknoicn  among  the  Jews  but  after- 
wards was  rejected  by  them,  when  his  claim  was  solemnly  entered 
and  his  miracles  most  publicly  wrought. 

Vain,  and  worse  than  vain,  was  this  message  and  inquiry  winch 
when  answered,  was  so  soon  overlooked  and  forgot.  iViay  Divine 
grace  teach  us  to  inquire  as  those  that  are  earnest  in  our  search  ! 
and  then  shall  ice  know  to  saving  purposes,  if  tee  thus  folloic  on  to 
knmv  the  Lord.     (Hos.  vi.  3.) 


SECTION  VII. 

John  i.  29—42. 

The  next  day  John  seeth  Jesus  coming  unto  him, 
and  ssith.  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world.  This  is  he  of  whom  I 
said,  After  me  cometh  a  man  which  is  preferred 
before  me  :  for  he  was  before  me.  And  I  knew  him 
not :    but  that  he  should  be  made  manifest  to  Israel, 

5* 


42  HARMONY    OF    THE 

therefore  am  I  come  baptizing  with  water.  And 
John  bare  record,  saying,  I  saw  the  Spirit  descending 
from  heaven  like  a  dove,  and  it  abode  upon  him. 
And  I  knew  him  not :  but  he  that  sent  me  to  baptize 
with  water,  the  same  said  unto  me.  Upon  whom  thou 
shah  see  the  Spirit  descending  and  remaining  on  him, 
the  same  is  he  which  baptizeth  w^th  the  Holy  Ghost. 
And  I  saw,  and  bare  record  that  this  is  the  son  of 
God. 

Again  the  next  day  after,  John  stood,  and  two  of 
his  disciples  :  And  looking  upon  Jesus  as  he  walked, 
he  saith,  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God!  And  the  two 
disciples  heard  him  speak,  and  they  followed  Jesus. 
Then  Jesus  turned  and  saw  them  following,  and 
saith  unto  them,  What  seek  ye  ?  They  said  unto 
him  Rabbi,  (which  is  to  say,  being  interpreted, 
Master,)  where  dwellest  thou  ?  He  saith  unto  them. 
Come  and  see.  They  came  and  saw  where  he  dwelt, 
and  abode  with  him  that  day  :  for  it  was  about  the 
tenth  hour.  One  of  the  two  which  heard  John  speak, 
and  followed  him,  was  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
brother.  He  first  findeth  his  own  brother  Simon,  and 
saith  unto  him.  We  have  found  the  Messias,  which 
is,  being  interpreted,  the  Christ.  And  he  brought 
him  to  Jesus.  And  when  Jesus  beheld  him,  he  said, 
thou  art  Simon  the  son  of  Jona  :  Thou  shalt  be  called 
Cephas,  which  is,  by  interpretation,  a  stone. 

Let  our  faith  daily  behold  Jesus  under  the  character  o^the  Lamb 
of  God,  a  Lamb  indeed  without  blemish  and  without  spot ;  by  whose 
precious  blood  we  are  redeemed,  as  by  an  infinitely  more  valuable 
ransom  than  silver  and  gold.  (1  Pet.  i.  18,  19.)  As  such  let  us 
humbly  apply  to  him  to  takeaway  our  sins,  and  rejoice  that  (as  the 
apostle  John  elsewhere  expresses  it)  he  is  the  propitiation  not  for 
our  sins  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world;  all  ages  and 
nations  being  interested  in  the  benefit  of  his  atonement.  (1  John 
ii.  2.) 

Let  us  consider  him  as  aiiointed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  as  bap- 
tizing his  church  with  it ;  and  learn,  after  the  example  of  John  the 
Baptist,  to  bear  our  testimony  to  him  again  and  again,  with  contin- 
ued steadiness  and  growing  zeal. 

Our  satisfaction  in  him,  as  the  great  and  only  Saviour,  will  surely 


FOUR    GOSPELS  43 

grow  in  proportion  to  our  acquaintance  with  him.  If  Divine 
grace  hath  discovered  him  to  us,  and  taught  us  to  repose  the 
confidence  of  our  souls  upon  him,  let  us,  like  Andrew  in  the 
passage  before  us,  be  concerned  to  make  him  known  to  others; 
and  especially  to  lead  our  nearest  relatives  and  our  most  intimate 
friends  into  that  acquaintance  with  him  which  is  so  absolutely 
necessary  to  their  eternal  happiness  ! 

Let  the  condescending  readiness  with  which  our  blessed 
Redeemer  accepted  and  even  invited  the  visit  of  these  two  disciples, 
engage  every  preacher  of  righteousness  most  willingly  to  give  his 
private  as  well  as  his  public  labours  and  his  lime  (valuable  as  that 
treasure  is)  to  the  service  of  those  who  are  seriously  affected  with 
the  concerns  of  their  souls,  and  are  inquiring  the  way  to  salvation. 
We  are  sufficiently  honoured,  if  by  any  means,  and  by  all,  we 
may  be  instrumental  in  promoting  that  cause  which  employed  the 
daily  labours  of  God's  incarnate  fcJon,  and  at  length  cost  him  his 
very  blood ! 


SECTION  VIIL 
John  i.  43 — 51. 

The  day  following,  Jesus  would  go  forth  into  Galilee, 
and  findeth  Philip,  and  saith  unto  him,  Follow  me. 
Now  Philip  was  of  Bethsaida,  the  city  of  Andrew 
and  Peter.  Philip  findeth  Nathanael,  and  saith 
unto  him,  We  have  found  him  of  whom  Moses  in  the 
law,  and  the  prophets  did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
the  son  of  Joseph.  And  Nathanael  said  unto  him. 
Can  there  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ? 
Philip  saith  unto  him,  come  and  see.  Jesus  saw 
Nathanael  coming  to  him,  and  saith  of  him.  Behold 
an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile  !  Nathanael 
saith  unto  him,  whence  knowest  thou  me?  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  Before  that  Philip 
called  thee,  when  thou  wast  under  the  fig-tree  I  saw 
thee.  Nathanael  answered  and  saith  unto  him, 
Rabbi,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God,  thou  art  the  king 
of  Israel.  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Because 
I  said  unto  thee,  I  saw  thee  under  the  fig-tree, 
believest  thou?  thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than 
these.     And  he  saith  unto  him,  Verily,  verily,  I  say 


44  HARMONY    OF    THE 

unto  you,  Hereafter  you  shall  see  heaven  open,  and 
the  angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending  upon  the 
Son  of  man. 

How  cautiously  should  vve  guard  against  popular  prejudices, 
which  possessed  so  honest  a  heart  as  that  of  Jfathanael,  and  led 
him  to  suspect  that  the  blessed  Jesiis  himself  was  an  imposter, 
and  that  no  good  could  be  expected  from  him  because  he  had  been 
brought  up  at  J^azareth!  I3ut  his  integrity  prevailed  over  that 
foolish  bias,  and  laid  him  open  to  the  conviction  of  evidence, 
which  a  candid  inquirer  will  always  be  glad  to  admit,  even  when 
it  brings  the  most  unexpected  discovery. 

How  amiable  is  the  character  here  given  of  JSTathanael !  Jin 
Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  thereis  no  guile !  May  the  attainment  of 
so  excellent  a  character,  and  a  resemblance  to  him  in  it,  be  the 
daily  aim  and  emulation  of  all  who  have  the  honour  to  be  called 
into  the  Israel  of  God  ! 

A  constant  intercourse  with  God  in  secret  devotion  will  be  a 
happy  expression  of  one  branch  of  this  sincerity,  and  an  effectual 
means  of  promoting  the  rest.  Let  it  therefore  be  our  care  that 
the  eye  of  him  that  seeth  hi  secret  may  often  behold  us  in  religious 
retirement,  pouring  out  our  souls  before  God,  and  humbly  con- 
secrating them  to  his  service.  The  day  will  come  when  those 
scenes  of  duty  which  were  most  cautiously  concealed  shall  be  com- 
memorated with  public  honour;  and  when  he  who  now  discerns 
them,  and  is  a  constant  witness  to  the  most  private  exercises  of 
the  closet,  will  reward  them  openly.     (Matt.  vi.  6.) 

Happy  were  those  who  saw  the  miracles  performed  by  the  Son 
of  Man  while  he  was  here  on  earth  !  and  happy  those  favourite 
spirits  of  heaven  which  were  ascending  and  descending  as  ininisters 
of  his  to  do  his  pleasure  !  But  in  some  degree  yet  happier  are  they 
who,  having  not  seen,  have  believed;  John  xx.  29.  As  their /atf/i 
is  peculiarly  acceptable,  it  shall  ere  long  be  turned  into  sight. 
They  shall  behold  much  greater  thhigs  {hdiVi  ever  were  seen  below, 
and  more  extraordinary  manifestations  of  his  glory  than  they  can 
now  conceive  ;  and  being  brought  with  all  his  people  to  surround 
his  throne,  shall  join  in  those  nobler  services  which  attendant 
angels  render  him  above. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  45 

SECTION  IX. 

John  ii.  1 — 11. 

And  the  third  day  there  was  a  marriage  in  Cana  of 
Galilee,  and  the  mother  of  Jesus  was  there.  And 
both  Jesus  was  called  and  his  disciples  to  the  mar- 
riage. And  when  they  wanted  wine,  the  mother  of 
Jesus  saith  unto  him,  They  have  no  wine.  Jesus 
saith  unto  her,  Woman,  what  have  I  to  do  with  thee? 
mine  hour  is  not  yet  come.  His  mother  saith  unto 
the  serA'ants,  Whatsoever  he  saith  unto  you,  do  it. 
And  there  were  set  there  six  water-pots  of  stone,  after 
the  manner  of  the  purifying  of  the  Jews,  containing 
two  or  three  firkins  apiece.  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
Fill  the  water-pots  with  water.  And  they  filled  them 
up  to  the  brim.  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Draw  out 
now,  and  bear  unto  the  governor  of  the  feast.  And 
they  bare  it.  When  the  ruler  of  the  feast  had  tasted 
the  water  that  was  made  wine,  and  knew  not  whence 
it  was  :  (but  the  servants  which  drew  the  water 
knew  ;)  the  governor  of  the  feast  called  the  bride- 
groom, and  saith  unto  him.  Every  man  at  the  begin- 
ning doth  set  forth  good  wine,  and  when  men  have 
well  drunk,  then  that  which  is  worse  :  but  thou  hast 
kept  the  good  wine  until  now.  This  beginning  of 
miracles  did  Jesus  in  Cana  of  Galilee,  and  manifested 
forth  his  glory  ;  and  his  disciples  believed  on  him. 

We  have  here  the  first  of  ChrisVs  public  miracles,  which  we 
find  was  not  wrought  till  about  his  thirtieth  year.  How  much 
sooner  [Could  he  have  glorified  himself,  and  amazed  the  world  by 
the  display  of  his  Divine  power!  But  he  waited  his  Father's  call, 
and  the  delay  added  at  length  to  the  lustre  of  his  works. 

It  was  performed  to  grace  a  nuptial  solemnity:  and  who  doth 
not  see  that  it  was,  in  effect,  a  testimony  borne  to  the  honour 
and  purity  of  that  happy  state  on  which  so  much  of  the  comfort 
of  the  present  generation  and  the  existence  of  the  future  regularly 
depend  ? 

How  happy  were  these  guests  while  Jesus  was  among  them  ! 
and  how  condescending  did  he  appear  in    making  one  on  the 


46  HARMONY    Oy    THE 

occaBion !  His  social  and  obliging  temper  should  sweeten  ours, 
and  be  a  lesson  to  his  followers  that  they  avoid  every  thing  sour 
and  morose,  and  do  not  censure  others  for  innocent  liberties  at 
proper  seasons  of  festivity  and  joy. 

If  Aw  mother  met  with  so  just  a  rebuke  for  attempting  to  direct 
his  administrations  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  how  absurd  is  it  for 
any  to  address  her  as  if  she  had  a  right  to  command  him  on  tlie 
throne  of  his  glory  !  And  how  indecent  for  us  to  direct  his 
supreme  wisdom  as  to  the  time  and  manner  in  which  he  shall 
appear  for  us  in  any  of  the  exigencies  of  life  ! 

Her  submission  and  faith  manifested  on  this  occasion  are 
truly  amiable :  and  with  this  we  have  surel}-  reasons  to  admire 
the  benignity  and  generosity  of  Chnst  in  this  miracle  before  us  ; 
who  consulted  the  pleasure  and  entertainment  as  well  as  the 
necessity  of  his  folloMers  j  and  by  this  abundant  supply  amply 
repaid  any  extraordinary  expense  which  he  might  have  occasioned 
to  the  family. 

How  easily  could  he,  who  thus  turned  water  into  loine^  have 
transformed  every  entertainment  of  a  common  table  into  the 
greatest  delicacies,  and  have  regaled  himself  daily  with  royal 
dainties !  But,  far  superior  to  such  animal  gratifications,  he  chose 
the  severities  of  a  much  plainer  life.  Blessed  Jesxis !  who  can 
say  whether  thou  art  greater  in  what  thou  didst  or  in  what  thou 
didst  not  do?  May  none  of  us  thy  followers  be  too  intent  on 
indulging  our  taste  or  any  of  our  other  senses  ;  but,  pursuing  those 
intellectual  and  devotional  pleasures  whicli  were  thy  meat  and 
thy  dnnk  on  earth,  may  we  wait  for  that  good  icine  which  thou 
roservest  for  thy  people  to  the  last,  and  for  those  richer  dainties 
with  which  thou  wilt  feast  those  who  shall  drink  it  with  thee  in  thy 
Father's  kingdom  !     (Matt.  xxvi.  29. ) 


SECTION  X. 

John  ii.  12 — 25. 

After  this  he  went  down  to  Capernaum,  he,  and  his 
mother,  and  his  brethren,  and  his  disciples,  "and  they 
continued  there  not  many  days.  And  the  Jews' 
passover  was  at  hand,  and  Jesus  went  up  to  Jeru- 
salem :  And  found  in  the  temple  those  that  sold 
oxen,  and  sheep,  and  doves,  and  the  changers  of 
money,  sitting  :  And  when  he  had  made  a  scourge 
of  small  cords,  he  drove  them  all  out  of  the  temple, 
and  the  sheep,  and  the  oxen  ;  and  poured  out  the 
changers'  money,  and  overthrew  the  tables  ;  and  said 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  47 

unto  them  that  sold  doves,  Take  these  things  hence, 
make  not  my  Father's  house  an  house  of  merchandise. 
And  his  disciples  remembered  that  it  was  written, 
The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up.  Then 
ansAvered  the  Jews,  and  said  unto  him,  What  sign 
shewest  thou  unto  us,  seeing  that  thou  doest  these 
things  ?  Jesus  answered,  and  said  unto  them.  Destroy 
this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raise  it  up. 
Then  said  the  Jews,  Forty  and  six  years  was  this 
temple  in  building,  and  wilt  thou  rear  it  up  in  three 
days?  But  he  spake  of  the  temple  of  his  body. 
When  therefore  he  was  risen  from  the  dead,  his 
disciples  remembered  that  he  had  said  this  unto 
them  :  and  they  believed  the  scripture,  and  the  word 
which  Jesus  had  said.  Now  when  he  was  in  Jeru- 
salem at  the  passover,  in  the  feast  day,  many  believed 
in  his  name,  when  they  saw  the  miracles  which  he 
did.  But  Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  unto  them, 
because  he  knew  all  men,  and  needed  not  that  any 
should  testify  of  man :  for  he  knew  what  was  in  man. 

How  powerful  is  the  love  of  this  world,  when  it  could  engage 
even  the  priests  and  the  Phansees  to  let  out  the  temple  itself  for 
a  market  place !  though  a  professed  zeal  for  the  honour  of  it  made 
so  great  a  part  of  the  righteousness  of  which  they  boasted  before 
God.  But  oitr  Lord  beheld  the  scene  with  just  indignatioji ;  as 
that  displeasure  is  indeed  just,  which  arises  from  a  sense  of 
dishonour  done  to  God  and  contempt  poured  on  the  institutions 
of  his  worship.  Happy  shall  we  be  in  the  warmest  emotions  of 
zeal  which  do  not  transport  us  beyond  the  rules  of  prudence  and 
love,  and  make  us  forget  those  stations  in  life  which  require  the 
same  principles  to  shew  themselves  in  widely  different  effects  ! 

Methinks  the  state  of  the  temple,  when  these  traders  had 
erected  their  seats  and  their  stalls  in  it,  and  turned  the  courts  of 
God''s  house  into  a  market,  is  too  just  an  emblem  of  the  state  of  our 
hearts  when  we  appear  in  the  sanctuary  distracted  with  worldly 
cares  to  the  neglect  of  that  one  thing  needfid,  which  then  demands 
our  most  attentive  regards.  Would  to  God  that  in  this  sense 
our  Father^s  house  were  not  often  made  a  house  of  merchandise ! 
Let  us  pray  that  Jesus,  by  his  good  Spirit,  would  assert  it  to  him- 
self, and  drive  out  those  intruders  which  break  in  upon  our  truest 
enjoyments,  in  proportion  to  that  degree  in  which  they  intrench 
on  our  devotion ! 


48  HARMONY    OF    THE 

After  a  thousand  proofs  of  his  Divine  mission,  the  Jews  were 
wicked  and  desperate  enough,  with  sacrilegious  hands  to  destroy 
the  temple  of  ChrisVs  body :  but  let  us  be  thankful  for  the  un- 
doubted evidence  we  have,  that,  as  an  everlasting  monument  of 
his  power  and  truth,  he  raised  it  again  in  three  days  I 

Happy  will  it  be  for  us  if  we  cordially  believe  a  gospel  so 
gloriously  attested  :  but  most  vain  will  that  belief  be  which  doth 
not  penetrate  and  influence  the  heart.  Let  us  remember  that  we 
have  to  do  with  him,  that  formed  our  nature  and  is  most  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  all  its  recesses.  He  knows  what  is  in  man  ; 
may  he  see  nothing  in  us  which  shall  not  be  thoroughly  agreeable 
to  the  profession  we  make  of  being  his  faithful  disciples  ! 

To  conclude ;  let  us  learn,  from  the  caution  which  Jesus  used, 
not  rashly  to  put  ourselves  and  our  usefulness  into  the  power  of 
others  ;  but  to  study  a  wise  and  happy  medium  between  that 
universal  prejudice  and  suspicion,  which,  while  it  wrongs  the  best 
and  the  most  worthy  characters,  would  deprive  us  of  all  the 
pleasures  of  an  intimate  friendship,  and  that  undistinguishing 
easiness  and  openness  of  temper  which  might  make  us  the  prop- 
erty of  every  hypocritical  pretender  to  kindness  and  respect. 


SECTION  XL 

John  hi.  1 — 26. 

There  was  a  man  of  the  Pharisees,  named  Nicode- 
mus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews  :  The  same  came  to  Jesus 
by  night,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi,  we  know  that 
thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God  ;  for  no  man  can 
do  these  miracles  that  thou  doest,  except  God  be  with 
him.  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  again, 
he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  Nicodemus 
saith  unto  him,  How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is 
old  ?  can  he  enter  the  second  time  into  his  mother's 
womb,  and  be  born  ?  Jesus  answered.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  thee.  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and 
of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God.  That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh,  is  flesh  ;  and 
that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.  Marvel 
not  that  I  said  unto  thee.  Ye  must  be  born  again. 
The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest 
the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  49 

and  whither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of 
the  Spirit.  Nicodemus  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
How  can  these  things  be?  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  him,  Art  thou  a  master  of  Israel,  and  knowest 
not  these  things  ? 

He  that  halh  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear  with  attention  what  the 
blessed  Redeemer  said  on  this  occasion.  It  is  surely  a  matter 
of  universal  concern:  for  who  would  not  desire  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God  ?  to  be  an  acceptable  member  of  ChrisVs  church 
now,  and  an  heir  of  glory  beyond  the  grave? — But  how  is  this 
blessing  to  be  expected  and  secured?  Thus  saith  the  Lord  him- 
self, Unless  a  man  be  born  again  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Let  us  remember  therefore  that  it  is  not  enough  that  a  new  name 
be  given  us,  or  that  a  new  profession  be  assumed  ;  it  is  not 
enough  that  we  are  descended  from  the  most  pious  ancestors,  that 
we  have  been  externally  devoted  to  God  by  the  early  seal  of  his 
covenant,  or  that  we  openly  have  made  a  solemn  and  express 
profession  of  our  own  faith  and  obedience,  and  have  been  born  of 
baptismal  icater  in  our  riper  years  !  There  must  be  a  neio  nature 
implanted,  a  new  creation  formed  in  our  souls  by  the  almighty 
energy  of  the  eternal  Spirit,  or  it  had  been  better  for  us  that  we 
had  7iever  been  born  at  all. 

That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh  ;  and  as  we  all  proceed 
from  a  corrupt  original,  we  do  not  more  evidently  bear  the  image 
of  the  earthly  Adam  in  the  infirmities  of  a  mortal  body  than  in  the 
degeneracy  of  a  corrupt  mind.  Oh,  let  us  earnestly  intreat  that 
being  born  of  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Spirit,  we  may  bear 
the  image  of  the  heavenly !  And  to  these  influences  let  us  with  all 
humility  and  thankfulness  be  ready  to  yield  up  our  souls,  as 
remembering  that  they  are  of  a  free  and  sovereign  nature,  like 
the  wind  that  bloweth  where  it  will,  and  docs  not  stay  for  the  com- 
mand of  the  children  of  men. 

Let  none  of  us  indulge  a  vain  and  useless  curiosity  with  respect 
to  the  manner  of  the  SpiriVs  operations,  or  wonder  that  we  meet 
with  some  things  that  are  secret  and  unknown  in  matters  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  when  we  see  daily  there  are  sj  many  things 
unknown  in  the  common  appearances  of  the  natural  world,  and 
indeed  so  few  that  we  can  perfectly  understand. 

May  the  pride  of  a  falsely  pretended  reason  be  subdued  to  the 
authority  o( faith.  And  more  especially,  may  such  as  are  teachers 
in  Israel,  or  who  are  designed  for  that  important  office,  take  their 
instructions  with  all  humility  from  this  teacher  sent  from  God! 
For  it  must  surely  be  not  only  their  calamity,  but  that  too  of  the 
church  in  general,  if  its  guides  continue  ignorant  of  those  sublime 
and  spiritual  truths  which  Christ  came  down  from  heaven  to 
reveal,  or  are  so  biassed  by  the  carnal  reasonings  of  a  depraved 
mind  as  to  be  indisposed  and  backward  to  receive  them. 

6 


50  HARMONY    OF    THE 

SECTION  XII. 

John  hi.  12—21. 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee.  We  speak  that  we 
do  know,  and  testify  that  we  have  seen :  and  ye 
receive  not  our  witness.  If  I  have  told  you  earthly 
things,  and  ye  believe  not,  how  shall  ye  believe,  if  I 
tell  you  of  heavenly  things  ?  And  no  man  hath 
ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  he  that  came  down  from 
heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven. 
And  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness, 
even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  :  That 
whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  eternal  life.  For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  be- 
lieveth in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life.  For  God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the  world  to 
condemn  the  world  :  but  that  the  world  through  him 
might  be  saved.  He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not 
condemned :  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 
already,  because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name 
of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.  And  this  is  the 
condemnation,  that  light  is  come  into  the  world,  and 
men  loved  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their 
deeds  were  evil.  For  every  one  that  doeth  evil  hateth 
the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the  light,  lest  his  deeds 
should  be  reproved.  But  he  that  doeth  truth  cometh 
to  the  light,  that  his  deeds  may  be  made  manifest, 
that  they  are  wrought  in  God. 

How  happy  is  it  for  us  that,  since  none  of  the  children  of  men 
ever  ascended  up  into  heaven  to  learn  the  mysteries  of  Divine 
knowledge  there,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  has  been  pleased  to 
come  down  from  thence  that  he  might  instruct  us !  He  spake  what 
he  knew,  and  testified  what  he  had  seen ;  Oh  that  men  were  so  wise 
as  to  receive  his  testimony,  be  the  discoveries  ever  so  new  cr  the 
doctrines  ever  so  sublime  ! 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  51 

Let  us  with  peculiar  pleasure  attend  unto  that  abstract  of  the 
gospel  which  he  exhibited  in  this  profitable  and  comprehensive 
discourse  with  J^icodemvs. — It  presents  to  our  view  Christ,  and 
him  crucified.  It  opens  the  treasures  of  Divine  beneficence  and 
compassion,  and  shews  us  the  Father  of  mercies  so  loving  a  world, 
which  he  might  justly  have  abhorred  and  destroyed,  as  lo  give  his 
only  begotten  Son  to  be  a  ransom  for  it. 

Let  us  behold  him  lifted  up  on  the  cross  as  the  great  attractive 
to  whom  all  were  to  be  drav-n!  In  him  shall  we  find  the  Divine 
cure  for  our  souls,  infected  as  they  are  with  the  poison  of  sin,  if 
we  behold  him  not  merely  with  a  curious  but  a  believing  eye. 
Whatever  our  wounds  be,  if  in  the  exercise  of  faith  we  look  to 
him,  we  shall  not  die  of  them;  but  it  is  owing  to  our  own 
obstinacy  and  impenitence  if  we  yet  perish. 

He  might  justly  have  appeared  in  a  different  form  for  the 
condemnation  of  sinners,  rather  than  their  salvation.  The  So7i  of 
God  might  have  come  into  an  apostate  loorld  armed  with  thunder- 
bolts of  flaming  vengeance  to  punish  the  violation  of  his  Father's 
law  ;  but  his  hands  are  filled  with  eternal  blessings. 

As  we  love  our  own  souls,  let  us  apply  to  him  in  time  for  this 
salvation.  Let  us  dread  the  aggravated  condemnation  of  those  who, 
ichen  light  is  come  into  the  world,  prefer  darkness  to  it,  and  obsti- 
nately shut  their  eyes  against  it,  though  it  be  the  dawnings  of  an 
eternal  day. 

J\Iay  iiitegi'ity  and  uprightness  preserve  us!  (Psalm  xxv.  21.) 
And,  conscious  of  a  real  desire  to  govern  ourselves  according  to 
the  light  we  have,  may  we  cheerfully  lay  ourselves  in  the  way  of 
more  ;  that  in  the  last  awful  day,  when  the  sentence  of  Divine 
wrath  shall  be  executed  on  all  the  servants  of  sin,  and  their 
character  shall  stand  disclosed  in  the  most  odious  colours,  ours 
may  shine  out  beautiful  and  fair,  and  the  good  deeds  that  we  have 
done,  being  now  wrought  in  God,  may  then  not  only  be  accepted 
and  applauded,  but  through  the  grace  of  the  Redeemer  abua- 
dantly  rewarded  by  him  ! 


SECTION  XIII. 

John  hi.  22—36. 

After  these  things  came  Jesus  and  his  disciples  into 
the  land  of  Judea,  and  there  he  tarried  with  them 
and  baptized.  And  John  also  was  baptizing  in 
JEnon  near  to  Salim,  because  there  was  much  water 
there  :  and  they  came  and  were  baptized.     For  John 


53  HARMONY    OF    THE 

was  not  yet  cast  into  prison.  Then  there  arose  a 
question  between  some  of  John's  disciples  and  the 
Jews,  about  purifying.  And  they  came  unto  John 
and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi,  he  that  was  with  thee 
beyond  Jordan,  to  whom  thou  bearcst  witness,  behold, 
the  same  baptizeth,  and  all  men  come  to  him.  John 
answered  and  said,  A  man  can  receive  nothing, 
except  it  be  given  him  from  heaven.  Ye  yourselves 
bear  me  witness,  that  T  said,  I  am  not  the  Christ,  but 
that  I  am  sent  before  him.  He  that  hath  the  bride  is 
the  bridegroom :  but  the  friend  of  the  bridegroom, 
which  standeth  and  heareth  him,  rejoiceth  greatly 
because  of  the  bridegroom's  voice  :  this  my  joy 
therefore  is  fulfilled.  He  must  increase,  but  I  must 
decrease.  He  that  cometh  from  above,  is  above  all : 
he  that  is  of  the  earth,  is  earthly,  and  speaketh  of  the 
earth  :  he  that  cometh  from  heaven  is  above  all : 
And  what  he  hath  seen  and  heard,  that  he  testiheth, 
and  no  man  receiveth  his  testimony.  He  that  hath 
received  his  testimony,  hath  set  to  his  seal  that  God 
is  true.  For  he  whom  God  hath  sent,  speaketh  the 
words  of  God :  for  God  giveth  not  the  Spirit  by 
measure  unto  him.  The  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and 
hath  given  all  things  into  his  hand.  Fie  that  believeth 
on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life:  and  he  that  believeth 
not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life  :  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him. 

It  is  indeed  too  true  that  the  spirit  tokich  naturally  choellcth  in  lis 
all  lusteih  to  envy,  (James  iv.  5,)  and  it  is  far  from  being  a  low 
attainment  in  religion  to  look  with  complacency  and  thankfulness 
on  the  superior  abilities  and  acceptance  of  others,  especially  of 
those  who  once  appeared  in  an  inferior  rank.  But  for  the  cure  of 
this  unreasonable  and  restless  passion,  so  contrary  to  the  true 
spirit  of  the  gospel,  let  us  remember  that  a  man  can  receive  nothing 
at  all  except  it  be  given  him  from  heaven.  It  is  Gf)d  that  makes  one 
man  to  differ  from  another  ;  and  surely  nothing  can  be  more 
unreasonable  than  that,  when  we  ourselves  have  received  all  from 
his  bounty,  otir  eye  should  be  evil  because  he  is  good.   (Matt.  xx.  15.) 

If  we  are  indeed  the  friends  of  Christ,  we  shall  rejoice  to  see 
his  interest  advance,  and  especially  to  see  souls  espoused  to  him 
as  the  great  Bridegroom  of  the  church,  whoever  are  the  instru- 
ments of  promoting  so  happy  a  work.     Would  to  God  that  in  this 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  ^ 

sense  all  the  Lm'd's  people  were  even  as  the  greatest  of  the 
prophets,  or  as  the  very  chief  of  the  apostles  !    (Numb.  xi.  29.) 

But  if  indeed  they  were  so,  yet,  like  those  brightest  luminaries 
of  the  church,  they  must  in  time  have  ihc'ir  change  and  their  tcanc. 
If  God  does  not  darken  their  g^Iories  by  a  sudden  eclipse,  yet  they 
who  are  now,  like  the  Baptist,  burning  and  shilling  lights,  nnist 
like  him  gradually  decrease,  while  others  are  increasing  about 
them;  as  they,  in  their  turns,  grew  up  amidst  the  decays  of  the 
former  generation.  Let  us  know  how  to  sef  as  well  as  to  rise; 
and  let  it  comfort  our  declining  days  to  trace  in  those  that  are 
likely  to  succeed  us  in  our  work  the  openings  of  yet  greater 
usefulness.  So  shall  we  grow  in  our  meetness  for  that  world 
where  all  the  righteous  shall  shine  forth  together,  as  the  sun,  in  the 
kingdom  of  their  Father,  in  a  bright  resemblance  of  him  with  whom 
there  is  no  variableness  nor  shadow  of  turning. 

As  the  surest  means  of  guiding  us  to  that  happy  world,  let  us 
make  it  our  great  care,  by  receiving  the  teslimony  of  Christ,  to  set 
our  seal  to  the  truth  of  God,  engaged  in  his  cause. — With  how 
much  pleasure  should  we  do  it,  and  with  what  joy  should  we 
reflect  that  the  Father  so  loveth  the  Son  that  he  has  not  only  given 
him  the  rich  and  unnieasurable  communications  of  the  Spirit,  but 
has  committed  also  into  his  hand  the  reins  of  government !  Let  his 
faithful  servants  remember  it  with  joy,  and  cheerfully  commit 
their  concerns  to  him  xcho  is  made  head  over  all  things  for  the 
benefit  of /lis  church.     (Ephes.  i.  22.) 

And  to  conclude  ;  let  it  engage  us  to  see  the  sincerity  of  our 
faith  in  him  and  subjection  to  him  ;  since  it  is  not  a  light  matter, 
but  our  lift,  even  the  very  life  of  our  soids.  May  God  awaken 
those  on  whom  his  lorath  now  abideth  to  a  sense  of  their  danger; 
and  may  he  strengthen  in  each  of  our  souls  ihdX  faith  which  is  the 
pledge  of  a  happy  immortality  I 


SECTION  XIV. 

John  iv.  1 — 26. 

When  therefore  the  Lord  knew  how  the  Pharisees 
had  heard  that  Jesus  made  and  baptized  more  dis- 
ciples than  John,  (though  Jesus  himself  baptized  not, 
but  his  disciples,)  he  left  Judea,  and  departed  again 
into  Galilee.  And  he  must  needs  go  through  Samaria. 
Then  cometh  he  to  a  city  of  Samaria,  which  is  called 

6* 


54  HARMONY    OF    THE 

Sychar,  near  to  the  parcel  of  ground  that  Jacob  gave 
to  his  son  Joseph.  Now  Jacob's  well  was  there. 
Jesus  therefore  being  wearied  with  his  journey,  sat 
thus  on  the  well  :  and  it  was  about  the  sixth  hour. 
There  cometh  a  woman  of  Samaria  to  draw  water  : 
Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Give  me  to  drink.  (For  his 
disciples  were  gone  away  unto  the  city  to  buy  meat.) 
Then  saith  the  woman  of  Samaria  unto  him,  How  is 
it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew,  askest  drink  of  me,  which 
am  a  woman  of  Samaria  ?  for  the  Jews  have  no  deal- 
ings with  the  Samaritans.  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  her.  If  thou  knoAvest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who 
it  is  that  saith  unto  thee.  Give  me  to  drink,  thou 
wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have 
given  thee  living  water.  The  woman  saith  unto  him, 
Sir,  thou  hast  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the  well  is 
deep  :  from  whence  then  hast  thou  that  living  water  ? 
Art  thou  greater  than  our  father  Jacob,  which  gave 
us  the  well,  and  drank  thereof  himself,  and  his 
children,  and  his  cattle  ?  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  her.  Whosoever  drinketh  of  this  water  shall 
thirst  again :  But  whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water 
that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  never  thirst:  but  the  water 
that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of' water 
springing  up  into  everlasting  life.  The  woman  saith 
unto  him,  Sir,  give  me  this  water,  that  I  thirst  not, 
neither  come  hither  to  draw.  Jesus  saith  unto  her. 
Go,  call  thy  husband,  and  come  hither.  The  woman 
answered  and  said,  I  have  no  husband.  Jesus  said 
unto  her.  Thou  hast  well  said,  I  have  no  husband : 
For  thou  hast  had  five  husbands,  and  he  whom  thou 
now  hast  is  not  thy  husband  :  in  that  saidst  thou 
truly.  The  woman  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  I  perceive 
that  thou  art  a  prophet.  Our  fathers  worshipped  in 
this  mountain ;  and  ye  say,  that  in  Jerusalem  is  the 
place  where  men  ought  to  worship.  Jesus  saith  unto 
her.  Woman,  believe  me,  the  hour  cometh,  when  ye 
shall  neither  in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem, 
worship  the  Father.    Ye  worship  ye  know  not  what : 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  55 

we  know  what  we  worship  :  for  salvation  is  of  the 
Jews.  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the 
true  worshippers  shall  worship  the  Father  in  spirit 
and  in  truth  :  for  the  Father  seeketh  such  to  worship 
him.  God  is  a  Spirit ;  and  they  that  worship  him, 
must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  The  woman 
saith  unto  him,  I  know  that  Messias  cometh,  which 
is  called  Christ ;  when  he  is  come,  he  will  tell  us  all 
things.  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  I  that  speak  unto  thee, 
am  he. 

Condescending  and  compassionate  Redeemer!  who  would  thus 
graciously  converse  with  a  Samaritan,  with  a  woman  of  an  infa- 
mous reputation  too,  from  whom,  on  various  accounts,  a  haughty 
Pharisee  would  have  turned  away  in  proud  disdain  !  and  could 
forget  his  thirst,  pressing  as  that  appetite  is,  that  he  niight  instruct 
and  lead  her  to  the  waters  of  life  I 

Gracious  gift  of  God  to  the  children  of  men!  how  noble  and 
how  lasting  a  delight  does  it  administer  !  Let  it  be  our  language, 
Lord,  evermore  give  lis  this  living  ivater !  Oh,  pour  out  this  en- 
livening spirit  on  us,  which  alone  can  allay  the  thirst  of  our  souls, 
and  give  us  that  lasting  satisfaction  which  we  in  vain  would  seek 
from  these  broken  cisterns,  from  these  precarious  streams;  till  at 
length  the  fountain  spnngs  up  in  Paradise,  and  flows  on  to  life 
everlasting ! 

May  this  good  spirit  anticipate  those  immortal  delights  to  our 
souls  by  leading  us  into  that  spirituality  of  worship  which  the 
nature  of  God  demands,  and  which  the  gospel  dispensation  is  so 
eminently  calculated  to  promote  !  Let  it  be  inscribed  on  our 
hearts  that  God  is  a  Spirit;  and  let  it  teach  us  to  worship  him  in 
spirit  and  in  truth.  Such  worshippers  the  Father  seeks;  such  may 
he  ever  find  in  us  ! 

May  all  intemperate  zeal  for  matters  of  doubtful  disputation, 
all  sentiments  of  bigotry  and  severity  against  our  brethren,  be 
happily  swallowed  up  in  this  infinitely  greater  concern  !  and 
while  others  contend  about  j)/rtces  and  forms  of  worship,  may  we 
pour  out  our  hearts  before  him,  and  feel  the  love  of  God  and  man 
shed  abroad  in  them  by  his  Spirit  given  unto  us  !     (Rom.  v.  5.) 


56  HARMONY  OF  THE 

SECTION  XV. 

John  iv.  27—42. 

And  upon  this  came  his  disciples,  and  marvelled 
that  he  talked  with  the  woman  ;  yet  no  man  said, 
What  seekest  thou  ?  or,  Why  talkest  thou  with  her  ? 
The  woman  then  left  her  water-pot,  and  went  her 
way  into  the  city,  and  saith  to  the  men.  Come,  see  a 
man  which  told  me  all  things  that  ever  I  did  :  Is  not 
this  the  Christ  ?  Then  they  went  out  of  the  city  and 
came  unto  him.  In  the  mean  while  his  disciples 
prayed  him,  saying,  Master,  eat.  But  he  said  unto 
them,  I  have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of.  There- 
fore said  the  disciples  one  to  another.  Hath  any  man 
brought  him  ought  to  eat  ?  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
My  meat  is  to  do  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to 
finish  his  work.  Say  not  ye.  There  are  yet  four 
months,  and  then  cometh  harvest  ?  behold,  I  say  unto 
you,  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields ;  for 
they  are  white  already  to  harvest.  And  he  that 
reapeth  receiveth  wages,  and  gathereth  fruit  unto 
life  eternal :  that  both  he  that  sovveth  and  he  that 
reapeth  may  rejoice  together.  And  herein  is  that 
saying  true.  One  soweth  and  another  reapeth.  I 
sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  labour  : 
other  men  laboured,  and  ye  are  entered  into  their 
labours. 

And  many  of  the  Samaritans  of  that  city  believed 
on  him  for  the  saying  of  the  woman  which  testified, 
He  told  me  all  that  ever  I  did.  So  when  the  Samar- 
itans were  come  unto  him,  they  besought  him  that 
he  would  tarry  with  them  :  and  he  abode  there  two 
days.  And  many  more  believed  because  of  his  own 
word :  and  said  unto  the  woman.  Now  we  believe, 
not  because  of  thy  saying :  for  we  have  heard  him 
ourselves,  and  know  that  this  is  indeed  the  Christ,  the 
Saviour  of  the  world. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  57 

Let  us  behold  with  pleasure  the  glorious  example  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer,  and  learn  to  imitate  his  zeal.  It  was  Ids  meat  and  drink 
to  pursue  his  Father''s  icork,  to  glorify  God,  and  to  do  good  to 
souls  :  and  ought  it  not  to  be  ours  ?  Let  us  bless  God  for  every 
opportunity  of  applying  to  it  and  every  field  of  service,  which 
Providence  opens  to  us. 

Let  gospel  minislers  especially  be  thankful  for  all  that  hath  been 
done  to  introduce  their  services,  not  only  by  the  ministration  of 
the  prophets  under  the  Old  Testament,  but  the  apostles  also  under 
the  J^cio,  and  by  succeeding  servaiits  of  Christ  m  every  age  of  the 
church.  In  this  sense,  with  rcjiard  to  us,  is  that  proverb  true.  One 
soxoeth  and  another  reapeth.  We  have  entered  into  the  labours  of 
others:  may  others  in  time  enter  into  ours!  May  the  work  be 
delivered  over  trom  one  ("aitlifiil  hand  to  another  and  be  carried  on 
by  each  with  slowing  zeal  and  success  !  Blessed  time,  when  all 
the  icorkmfn  sliall  meet  and  join  their  songs;  and  each  of  the 
souls  gathered  into  eternal  life  shall  be,  to  all  concerned  in  their 
conversion  or  edification,  an  ornament  of  glory  and  a  source  of 
pleasure  ! 

Surely,  if  we  know  Christ  ourselves,  we  shall,  like  this  icoman 
of  Samaria,  be  solicitous  to  communicate  the  knowledge  to  others, 
and  shall  sometimes  forget  our  little  icorldly  interests\o  attend  to 
this  vast  superior  care.  May  we  believe  in  him,  not  merely  on  the 
report  and  testimony  of  others,  but  on  our  own  experience ;  that 
having  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  we  may  bear  a  more  lively 
and  effectual  testimony  to  him  ! 

Let  us  watchfully  observe  the  leadings  of  Providence,  and  what- 
ever our  own  schemes  may  have  been,  let  us  still  adjust  our  con- 
duct by  the  intimations  of  present  duty  ;  and  especially  where  we 
have  reascm  to  believe  that  God  is  by  his  Spirit  beginning  to  work 
on  men's  hearts,  let  us  be  ambitious  of  being  icorkers  together  loith 
him.  .,3  icord  spoken  in  such  a  season  is  remarkably  good,  and  it  is 
a  great  part  of  Christian  and  ministerial  prudence  to  observe  and 
improve  those  tender  times. 


SECTION  XVI. 

John  iv.  43 — 54. 

Now  after  two  days  he  departed  thence,  and  went 
into  Galilee.  For  Jesus  himself  testified,  that  a 
prophet  hath  no  honour  in  his  own  country. — Then 
when  he  was  come  into  Galilee,  the  Galileans  re- 
ceived him,  having-  seen  all  the  things  that  he  did 
at   Jerusalem   at   the   feast ;  for  they  also  went  unto 


58  HARMONY    OF    TUB 

the  feast.  So  Jesus  came  again  into  Cana  of  Galilee, 
where  he  made  the  water  wine.  And  there  was  a 
certain  nobleman,  whose  son  was  sick  at  Capernaum. 
When  he  heard  that  Jesus  was  come  out  of  Judea 
into  Galilee,  he  went  unto  him,  and  besought  him 
that  he  would  come  down  and  heal  his  son  :  for 
he  was  at  the  point  of  death.  Then  said  Jesus  unto 
him.  Except  ye  see  signs  and  wonders,  ye  will  not 
believe.  The  nobleman  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  come 
down  ere  my  child  die.  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Go 
thy  way  ;  thy  son  liveth.  And  the  man  believed  the 
word  that  Jesus  had  spoken  unto  him,  and  he  went 
his  way.  And  as  he  was  now  going  down,  his 
servants  met  him,  and  told  him,  saying,  Thy  son 
liveth.  Then  inquired  he  of  them  the  hour,  when 
he  began  to  amend  :  And  they  said  unto  him,  Yes- 
terday at  the  seventh  hour  the  fever  left  him.  So  the 
father  knew  that  it  was  at  the  same  hour,  in  the 
which  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Thy  son  liveth  ;  and 
himself  believed,  and  his  whole  house.  This  is  again 
the  second  miracle  that  Jesus  did,  when  he  was  come 
out  of  Judea  into  Galilee. 


How  unreasonable  are  the  passions  and  prejudices  of  mankind, 
and  this  in  particular,  a  prophet  should  have  no  honour  in  his  own 
country !  One  would  have  imagined  that  Jesus  at  least,  free  as  he 
was  from  all  the  follies  of  childhood  and  youth,  should  have  been 
en  exception  ;  nay,  indeed,  that  he  should  have  been  peculiarly 
honoured  there,  where  his  early  wisdom  and  piety  could  not  but 
be  observed. 

Our  Lord  however  intended  them  a  visit,  even  at  J^azareth;  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  his  ministers  to  bear  their  testimony,  ichether  men 
will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  forbear.  Yet  should  they  learn  of 
their  Great  Master  to  study  as  much  as  they  can  to  obviate  those 
prejudices,  which  might  prevent  their  usefulness,  and  should  use 
the  most  prudent  and  gentle  methods  to  vanquish  them. 

Such  was  this  beneficial  miracle  of  our  Lord;  which  may  afford 
us  many  particulars  worthy  of  our  notice.  With  what  affection  and 
zeal  does  this  tender  parent  apply  to  Christ  on  the  sickness  of  his 
child!  Let  us  not  be  less  importunate  when  soliciting  spiritual 
blessings  in  behalf  of  our  dear  offspring:  and  so  much  the  rather 
as  their  lives  are  so  precarious,  and  we  know  not  how  soon  these 
\o\e\y  Jlotcers  may  be  cut  down,  and  all  farther  petitions  for  them 
be  for  ever  superseded, 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  59 

Our  Lord  while  at  a  distance  from  the  patient,  wrought  and  per- 
fected the  cure.  And  has  he  not  still  the  same  Divine  power, 
though  he  does  not  exert  it  in  the  same  miraculous  way  ?  Let  not 
his  bodily  absence  abate  our  faith,  while  praying  for  others  or  for 
ourselves. 

Salvation  now  came  to  this  house,  and  blessings  infinitely  more 
valuable  than  noble  blood,  or  ample  possessions,  or  royal  favour, 
or  recovered  health  could  give;  for  the  ewe  wrought  on  the  body 
of  one  was  a  means  of  producing/ai7A  in  the  hearts  of  all.  Blessed 
Jesus  !  thy  power  was  no  less  employed  in  the  latter  than  in  the 
former.  Oh  may  that  power  work  in  such  a  manner  on  our  souls 
as  that  we  all  may  be  disposed  cordially  to  receive  thee,  and 
cheerfully  to  venture  our  eternal  all  upon  thee  !  May  toe  and  our 
houses  concur  in  so  wise  and  happy  a  resolution;  and  not  insist- 
ing upon  evidence  beyond  what  thy  gracious  wisdom  has  thought 
fit  to  give  us,  may  we  candidly  receive  the  light  we  have,  and 
faithfullyjmprove  it  so  as  to  be  at  length  entitled  to  the  blessedness 
of  those  who  have  not  seen  and  yet  have  believed !     John  xx.  29. 


SECTION  XVII. 

Luke  iv.  14—30. 

And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had  been 
brought  up,  and  as  his  custom  was,  he  went  into  the 
synagogue  on  the  sabbath  day,  and  stood  up  for  to 
read.  And  there  was  delivered  unto  him  the  book 
of  the  prophet  Esaias,  and  when  he  had  opened  the 
book,  he  found  the  place  where  it  was  written,  The 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  because  he  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  he 
hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken  hearted,  to  preach 
deliverance  to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of  sight 
to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 
to  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord.  And  he 
closed  the  book,  and  he  gave  it  again  to  the  minister, 
and  sat  down.  And  the  eyes  of  all  them  that  were 
in  the  synagogue  were  fastened  on  him.  And  he 
began  to  say  unto  them.  This  day  is  this  scripture 
fulfilled  in  your  ears.  And  all  bare  him  witness,  and 
wondered  at  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out 


60  HARMONY    OF    THE 

of  his  mouth.  And  they  said,  Is  not  this  Joseph's 
son  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  will  surely  say 
unto  me  this  proverb.  Physician,  heal  thyself;  what- 
soever we  have  heard  done  in  Capernaum,  do  also 
here  in  thy  country.  And  he  said,  Verily,  I  say  unto 
you,  No  prophet  is  accepted  in  his  own  country.  But 
I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  many  widows  were  in  Israel  in 
the  days  of  Elias,  when  the  heaven  was  shut  up  three 
years  and  six  months,  when  great  famine  was  through- 
out all  the  land  ;  but  unto  none  of  them  was  Elias 
sent,  save  unto  Sarepta,  a  city  of  Sidon,  unto  a 
woman  that  w^as  a  widow.  And  many  lepers  were  in 
Israel  in  the  time  of  Eliseus  the  prophet,  and  none  of 
of  them  was  cleansed,  saving  Naaman  the  Syrian. 
And  all  they  in  the  synagogue,  when  they  heard  these 
things,  were  filled  with  wrath,  and  rose  up,  and  thrust 
him  out  of  the  city,  and  led  him  unto  the  brow  of  the 
hill  whereon  their  city  was  built,  that  they  might  cast 
him  down  headlong.  But  he  passing  through  the 
midst  of  them,  went  his  way. 

We  see  that  it  was  the  custom  of  our  blessed  Saviour  to  fre- 
quent the  synagogues  every  sabbath  day ;  how  well  therefore  does 
it  become  his  servants  to  be  constant  in  their  attendance  on 
public  ordinances,  especially  since  those  of  the  gospel  are  in 
many  respects  so  much  nobler  than  any  which  the  JViosaic institu- 
tion would  admit ! 

In  the  synagogues  the  scriptures  were  constantly  read;  and  it 
is  matter  of  pleasing  reflection  that,  in  all  ages  of  the  Christian 
church,  the  reading  them  hath  usually  been  made  a  part  of  the 
service  in  most  of  its  solemn  assemblies.  Let  it  still  be  so  with 
us  for  this  reason,  among  others,  that  so  glorious  a  testimony  to 
the  genuineness  of  scripture  may  not  be  impaired  in  our  hands, 
but  transmitted  to  those  that  shall  arise  after  us. 

And  surely  the  Old  Testament,  as  well  as  the  J^few,  deserves 
our  attentive  perusal ;  in  which,  if  we  are  not  strangely  negli- 
gent, or  strangely  prejudiced,  we  must  often  meet  with  remark- 
able prop/jecies  0/  Christ  shining  with  a  pleasing  lustre,  like  lights 
in  a  dark  place.  (2  Pet.  i.  19.)  How  amiable  a  view  of  him  is 
given  in  that  which  he  now  opened  !  Let  us  seriously  attend  to 
it.  It  is  a  moving  representation  that  is  here  made  of  the  deplor- 
able stale  in  which  (he  gospel  finds  us  !  The  helpless  prisoners  of 
Divine  justice,  the  wretched  captives  of  Sata7i,  stripped  and 
wounded,  the  eyes  of  our  understanding  blinded,  and  tlie  powers 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  61 

of  our  souls  enfeebled ;  and,  as  it  were,  bruised  with  those  chains 
which  prejudice  and  vice  have  fastened  upon  them  !  But  in  these 
miserable  circumstances  Jesus  appears  to  opeyi  the  doors  of  our 
prison,  to  strike  off  our  fetters,  and  even  to  restore  our  sight.  He 
comes  to  enrich  our  impoverished  souls,  and  to  preach  a  far  better 
jubilee  than  JSIoses  could  proclaim  ;  the  free  forgiveness  of  all  our 
sins  and  the  recovery  of  an  inheritance  of  eternal  glory.  Surely 
it  should  be  to  us  a  most  acceptable  time.  Blessed  are  the  people 
that  know  this  joyful  sound;  they  shall  toalk,  0  Lord,  in  the  light  of 
thy  countenance  !     Psalm  Ixxxix.    15. 

In  some  sense  this  instructive  and  comfortable  scripture  is  this 
day  fidfilledjn  our  ears  likewise.  Let  us  also  bear  our  testimony 
to  the  gracious  icords  of  this  welcome  messenger  whom  God  hath 
annointed  for  such  happy  purposes  ! 

One  would  have  imagined  that  while  the  eyes  of  his  auditors 
■were  fixed  upon  him,  their  souls  should  have  drank  in  his  doctrine 
tis  the  thirsty  earth  sucks  up  the  rain,  and  that  every  heart  should 
have  been  open  to  embrace  him.  But,  O  blessed  Jesus,  while  thou 
art  preaching  these  glad  tidings  of  great  joy,  what  a  return  dost 
thou  find !  Thou  art  ungratefully  rejected,  thou  art  impiously 
assaulted  ;  and  had  their  rage  and  malice  been  able  to  prevail, 
the  joyful  sound  would  have  died  into  empty  air  as  soon  as  it  began 
and  this  thy  first  sermon  at  JSTazareth,  had  been  thy  last. 

Thus  disdainfully  art  thou  still  rejected  by  multitudes  who  still 
hear  the  same  message  echoing  from  thy  word.  And  is  there  not 
a  malignity  in  the  hearts  of  sinners  which  might  lead  those  of 
our  own  days  to  the  outrageous  wickedness  of  these  J/'azarenes 
were  their  opportunities  the  same,  rather  than  they  would  bow 
their  stubborn  hearts  to  the  obedience  of  faith  ?  But  while  they 
are  crucifying  thee  afresh  by  their  sins,  and  putting  thee  to  open 
shame,  may  we  honour  thee  as  the  Son  of  God,  the  Saviour  of 
men;  and  labour  by  the  ardour  of  our  love  and  the  steadiness  of 
our  obedience,  in  some  measure  to  balance  the  ingratitude  of 
those,  who,  while  they  are  opposing  thee,  are  destroying  them- 
selves .' 


62  HARMONY  OF  THE 


SECTION  XVIII. 

Matthew  iv.  12—26.     Mark  i.  14 — 20.    Luke  iv. 

31,  32. 

Now  when  Jesus  had  heard  that  John  was  cast  into 
prison,  he  came  into  Galilee;  and  leaving  Nazareth, 
he  came  down  to,  and  dwelt  in  Capernaum,  a  city 
of  Galilee,  which  is  upon  the  sea-coast  in  the  borders 
of  Zabulon  and  Nepthalim  :  That  it  might  be  ful- 
filed  which  was  spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying, 
The  land  of  Zabulon,  and  the  land  of  Nepthalim  by 
the  way  of  the  sea  beyond  Jordan,  Galilee  of  the 
Gentiles  :  The  people  which  sat  in  darkness,  saw 
great  light,  and  to  them  which  sat  in  the  region  and 
shadow  of  death,  light  is  sprung  up. — From  that 
time  Jesus  began  to  preach  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  to  say.  The  time  is  fulfilled,  and  the 
kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand  :  Repent  ye,  and  believe 
the  gospel. 

And  Jesus  Avalking  by  the  sea  of  Galilee  saw  two 
brethren,  Simon  called  Peter,  and  Andrew  his 
brother,  casting  a  net  into  the  sea ;  for  they  were 
fishers.  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Come  ye  afler 
me,  and  I  will  make  you  to  become  fishers  of  men. 
And  straightway  they  forsook  their  nets  and  followed 
him.  And  when  he  had  gone  a  little  further  thence, 
he  saw  other  two  brethren,  James  the  son  of  Zebedee, 
and  John  his  brother,  who  also  were  in  a  ship  with 
Zebedee  their  father,  mending  their  nets  :  And 
straightway  he  called  them  ;  and  they  immediately 
lefl  their  fathsr  Zebedee  in  the  ship  with  the  hired 
servants,  and  went  after  him. 

Such  was  the  zeal  and  courage  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  that 
he  no  sooner  had  been  persecuted  and  assaulted  ^\.  J^azareth,  but 
he  went  and  preached  in  the  synagogue  at  Capernaum.  Thus 
may  all  the  opposition  that  we  meet  with  in  thecourse  of  our  duty 
animate,  rather  than  overbear,  our  resolution  in  performing  it ! 

How  happy  Mas  the  land  of  Zabulon  and  Nepthalim  in  the  visits 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  63 

of  such  a  guest !  And  may  we  not  ad-d  too,  how  happy  is  onr  own 
land  in  being  visited  by  the  everlasting  gospel,  which  is  now  much 
more  clearly  discovered  to  us  than  it  was  to  these  coasts  while 
Christ  began  to  open  his  ministry  among  their  inhabitants. 

In  us  is  this  prophecy  of  Isaiah  emincni\y  fulfilled :  We  but  a 
few  ages  ago  sat  in  darkness  ;  and  behold  we  see  a  great  light.  Our 
country,  amidst  all  the  advantages  of  its  soil  and  situation,  was  in 
a  spiritual  sense,  the  region  and  the  shadow  of  death;  but  the  Sun 
of  Righteonsness  is  risen  upon  us,  nor  do  we  only  behold  his  rising 
beams,  but  his  meridian  lustre.  May  we  not  be  so  ungrateful  as 
obstinately  to  shut  our  eyes  against  it,  lest  the  valley  of  vision,  and 
EmmanuePs  land,  should  on  the  whole  prove  to  us  the  land  of 
destruction  and  the  valley  of  death  itself! 

That  this  may  never  be  our  case,  let  us  diligently  attend  to  this 
Divine  Teacher,  who  speaks  with  such  authority,  and  whose  u'ords 
are  so  weighty  and  powerful.  May  we  feel  the  energy  and 
authority  of  them  !  May  they  call  us  off  from  every  undue 
attachment  to  the  business  or  the  pleasures  of  life!  And  if  ever 
he  should  see  fit  to  try  us,  as  he  did  these  his  servants,  with  a 
a  command  to  forsake  our  nearest  relations  and  our  earthly  all,  for 
his  service,  let  us  do  it  with  pleasure  ;  remembering  on  the  one 
hand,  that  he  loho  luves  father  or  mother,  wife  or  chUelren,  houses  or 
lands,  moi'e  than  Christ,  is  not  xoorlhy  of  him  ;  and  on  the  other 
hand,  that  he  who  abandons  these  engagements, /or  his  sake,  shall 
receive  an  hundred  fold  noiv  ni  this  lime,  and  in  the  world  to  come, 
life  everlasting.     (Matt.  s.  37,  and  Mark  x.  29,  30.) 


SECTION  XIX. 

Mark  i.  21—28.     Luke  iv.  31—37. 

And  they  went  into  Capernaum ;  and  straightway  on 
the  sabbath  day  he  entered  into  the  synagogue,  and 
taught  them.  And  they  were  astonished  at  his  doc- 
trine ;  for  his  word  was  with  power,  for  he  taught 
them  as  one  that  had  authority,  and  not  as  the 
scribes.  And  there  was  in  their  synagogue  a  man, 
v/hich  had  a  spirit  of  an  unclean  devil,  and  he 
cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Let  us  alone, 
what  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazar- 
eth ?  Art  thou  come  to  destroy  us  ?  I  know  thee, 
who  thou  art,  the  Holy  One  of  God.  And  Jesus 
rebuked  him,  saying,  Hold  thy  peace,  and  come  out 


64 


HARMONY  OF  THE 


of  him.  And  when  the  unclean  spirit  had  torn  him, 
and  thrown  him  in  the  midst,  and  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  he  came  out  of  him,  and  hurt  him  not.  And 
they  were  all  amazed,  insomuch  that  they  questioned 
among  themselves,  saying.  What  thing  is  this  ?  What 
new  doctrine  is  this  ?  for  with  authority  and  power  he 
commandeth  even  the  unclean  spirits,  and  they  do  obey 
him,  and  come  out.  And  immediately  his  fame 
spread  abroad,  throughout  all  the  region  into  every 
place  of  the  country  round  about  Galilee. 

Justly  may  we  join  our  astonishment  with  that  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Capernaum,  and  say,  What  manner  of  teaching  is  this?  and 
with  what  regard  should  it  be  received,  when  the  devils  them- 
selves, and  the  most  desperate  diseases,  are  thus  apparently 
subject  to  him  who  uses  it? 

We  see  the  malice  of  Satan  in  possessing  and  tormenting  the 
bodies  of  men.  God  then  permitted  it,  to  render  Chrisl^s  triumph 
over  him  so  much  the  more  illustrious,  and  the  appearance  of 
that  great  Deliverer  so  much  the  more  welcome.  Such  diabolical 
operations  as  these  are  now  restrained  ;  and  it  is  matter  of  great 
thankfulness  that  they  are.  But  would  to  God  that  malignant 
enemy  did  not,  in  a  yet  more  fatal  manner,  possess  the  soids  of  men 
and  work  in  the  children  of  disobedience  !  Yet  there  can  the  power 
of  Jesus  prevail,  to  bind  the  strong  man  and  spcil  his  goods. 

AVisely  did  Christ  silence  the  suspicious  praises  of  an  ^mclean 
spirit,  and  vain  is  all  the  hope  which  men  build  merely  on  those 
orthodox  professions  of  the  most  important  truths,  in  which  Satan 
himself  could  vie  with  them. 


SECTION  XX. 

Matt.  viii.  14 — 17. — Mark  i.  29 — 34. — Luke  iv. 

38—41. 

And  forthwith  when  they  were  come  out  of  the 
synagogue,  they  entered  into  the  house  of  Simon 
Peter  and  Andrew,  with  James  and  John.  And 
Simon's  wife's  mother  lay  sick  of  a  great  fever :  and 
anon  they  told  him  of  her,  and  besought  him  for  her. 
And  he  came,  and  stood  over  her  and  took  her  by  the 
hand,  and  rebuked  the  fever,  and  lifted  her  up,  and 


rOUR    GOSPELS.  6S 

immediately  the  fever  left  her.  And  she  arose,  and 
ministered  unto  them. 

And  at  even,  when  the  sun  did  set,  all  they  that 
had  any  sick  with  divers  diseases  brought  them  unto 
him,  and  they  brought  unto  him  many  that  were  pos- 
sessed of  devils.  And  all  the  city  was  gathered 
together  at  the  door.  And  he  cast  out  many  devils 
with  his  word,  and  they  cried  out,  saying,  Thou  art 
Christ  the  Son  of  God.  And  he  rebuking  them 
suffered  not  the  devils  to  speak  :  for  they  knew  him, 
that  he  was  Christ.  And  he  healed  many  that  were 
sick  of  divers  diseases  :  and  he  laid  his  hands  on 
every  one  of  them  and  healed  them  :  That  it  might 
be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet, 
saying.  Himself  took  our  infirmities,  and  bare  our 
sicknesses. 

Mark  i.  35— 39.— Luke  iv.  42—44. 

And  in  the  morning  rising  up  a  great  while  before 
day,  he  went  out  and  departed  into  a  desert  place, 
and  there  prayed.  And  Simon,  and  they  that  were 
with  him,  followed  after  him  :  And  when  they  had 
found  him,  they  said  unto  him.  All  men  seek  for 
thee.  And  the  people  sought  him,  and  came  unto 
him  and  stayed  him  that  he  should  not  depart  from 
them.  And  he  said  unto  them,  let  us  go  into  the 
next  towns,  that  I  may  preach  there  also.  I  must 
preach  the  kingdom  of  God  to  other  cities  also,  for 
therefore  came  I  forth.  And  he  preached  in  their 
synagogues  throughout  all  Galilee,  and  cast  out 
devils. 

Matt.  iv.  23 — 25. 

And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching  in 
their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  sickness,  and 
all  manner  of  disease  among  the  people.     And  his 


66  HARMONY    OF    THE 

fame  went  throughout  all  Syria  :  And  they  brought 
unto  him  all  sick  people  that  were  taken  with  divers 
diseases  and  torments,  and  those  which  were  pos- 
sessed with  devils,  and  those  which  Avere  lunatic, 
and  those  that  had  the  palsy  ;  and  he  healed  them. 
And  there  followed  him  great  multitudes  of  people 
from  Galilee,  and  fro7n  Decapolis,  and  from  Jeru- 
salem, Siudfrorn  Judaea,  and  from  beyond  Jordan. 


Christ  returning  from  the  synagogue,  finds  the  mother-in-law  of 
Peter  detained  from  the  solemn  assemblies,  a  prisoner  at  home 
under  an  afflictive  providence,  which  that  circumstance  of*  con- 
finement probably  rendered  yet  more  afflictive  to  her.  But  the 
mercy  which  the  evening  brought  with  it  was  a  rich  equivalent  for 
all  the  sorrows  of  the  day.  Jesus,  their  welcome  guest,  appears 
as  the  great  Physician  both  of  soul  and  body  ;  a  touch  of  his  ha7id 
assuages  the  tumult  in  her  veins,  and  at  his  voice  the  distemper 
leaves  her.  Surely,  as  the  great  Lord  in  the  kingdom  of  Provi- 
dence, he  performs  those  cures  which  are  now  wrought  by  natural 
means,  and  is  to  be  owned  in  them.  Must  not  each  of  us  thank- 
fully acknowledge  how  often  he  hath  rebuked  fevers  and  other 
distempers  by  the  skill  of  physicians,  and  the  efficacy  of 
medicines  ;  so  that  they  have  departed  from  us  perhaps  when  we 
esteemed  them  desperate,  and  had  received  the  sentence  of  death  in 
ourselves  ? 

Let  us  learn  to  imitate  the  pious  gratitude  of  this  good  xooman, 
who,  when  recovered,  immediately  arose  and  ministered  unto  Christ. 
Thus  let  it  be  our  care  that  those  lives  which  are  spared  by  his 
goodness,  and  that  strength  which  is  renewed  by  his  power, 
may  be  faithfully  and  affectionately  devoted  to  his  service. 

flow  delightfully  were  the  sabbaths  of  Christ  spent  in  the  midst 
of  all  his  fatigues!  How  pleasantly  did  the  sun  go  down  upon  him, 
when  he  had  been  imitating  that  heavenly  luminary  in  his  steady 
and  constant  course;  scattering  a  brighter  light  and  more  bene- 
ficial influences  upon  all  about  him. 

And  when  the  sabbath  had  been  spent  in  these  labours  of  piety 
and  love,  how  happily  were  the  fruits  of  it  carried  into  the 
ensuing  week  ?  The  first  morning  of  it,  that  it  might  be  most 
pleasantly  and  most  profitably  begun  Jesus  rose  before  it  was  lighty 
that  he  might  enjoy  God  and  himself  in  religious  retirement.  It 
surely  becomes  us  sometimes  willingly  to  deny  ourselves  the 
gratification  of  sleep,  that  we  may  have  the  better  opportunity  for 
devotion.  And  it  should  be  the  peculiar  care  of  those  who  are 
employed  in  God's  public  service,  to  cultivate  communion  with 
him  in  private ;  lest  while  they  keep  the  vineyard  of  others,  their 
own  be  rieglected  and  impoverished.    Cant.  i.  6, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  67 

Our  Lord's  retirement  is  interrupted  by  the  people  who  caine  to 
inquire  after  him  and  desired  to  have  detained  him  longer  among 
them  :  and  who  that  has  ever  known  the  pleasure  of  conversing 
with  him,  would  not  desire  that  it  might  be  longer  continued  and 
frequenlly  renewed?  But  in  this  instance,  </iei>  request  must  be 
denied;  the  great  purpose  of  his  miuistry  required  his  presence 
elsewhere,  and  he  breaks  through  all  that  importunity  which 
would  have  broken  in  upon  his  schemes  of  usefulness:  a  resolu- 
tion which  we  must  learn  in  some  cases  to  imitate,  if  we  would 
prosecute  the  business  of  life  with  vigour  and  success.  Let  us 
often  reflect  wherefore  we  are  sent;  and  jiidoe  by  t'lat  \vhere  God 
would  have  us  to  be  ;  that  by  the  inumatioiis  of  liis  pleasure 
every  motion  may  be  regulated,  and  every  abode  determined. 

Wherever  Christ  removes,  he  still  goes  about  doing  good,  publish- 
ing the  gospel  and  confirming  it  by  the  most  amazing  works  of 
power  and  mercy.  How  well  were  tliese  miracles  suited  to 
awaken  men's  attention,  and  to  convince  their  consciences  of  his 
Divine  mission  !  Well  might  his  fame  go  over  the  whole  country: 
may  it  extend  itself  now  to  the  remotest  regions,  that  all  the  ends 
of  the  earth  may  look  imto  him  and  be  saved,  (Is.  xlv.  22,)  while  he 
displays  a  healing  power  over  their  spirits  proportionable  to  that 
which  he  here  exerted  on  their  bodies ! 


SECTION  XX. 

Matthew  v.   1 — 16. 

And  seeing  the  multitudes,  he  went  up  into  a  moun- 
tain. And  when  he  was  sat,  his  disciples  came  unto 
him.  And  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  taught  them, 
saying,— 

Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit  :  for  theirs  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn, 
for  they  shall  be  comforted.  Blessed  are  the  meek 
for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth.  Blessed  are  they 
which  do  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  :  for 
they  shall  be  filled.  Blessed  are  the  merciful :  for 
they  shall  obtain  mercy.  Blessed  are  the  pure  in 
heart,  for  they  shall  see  God.  Blessed  are  the  peace- 
makers :  for  they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God. 
Blessed  are  they  which  are  persecuted  for  righteous- 


68  HARMONY    OF    THE 

ness'  sake  ;  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Blessed  are  ye,  when  men  shall  revile  you,  and 
persecute  you^  and  shall  say  all  manner  of  evil 
against  you  falsely  for  my  sake.  Rejoice  and  be 
exceeding  glad  :  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven : 
For  so  persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were  before 

you. 

Ye  arc  the  salt  of  the  earth  :  but  if  the  salt  have 
lost  its  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be  salted  ?  It  is 
thenceforth  good  for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out, 
and  to  be  trodden  under  foot  of  men.  Ye  are  the 
light  of  the  world  :  A  city  that  is  set  on  a  hill 
cannot  be  hid.  Neither  do  men  light  a  candle,  and 
put  it  under  a  bushel :  but  on  a  candlestick,  and  it 
giveth  light  unto  all  that  are  in  the  house.  Let  your 
light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your 
good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in 
heaven. 

What  abundant  reason  have  we  to  bless  God  that  this  large 
and  edifying  discourse  of  our  blessed  Reeeemer  is  thus  particularly 
recorded  by  the  sacred  historian.  Let  every  one  thai  hath  ears  to 
hear  attend  to  it ;  for  surely  never  man  spake  as  our  Lord  here  doth. 
Let  us  fix  our  souls  in  a  posture  of  humble  attention,  that  we 
may  receive  the  laic  from  his  mouth. 

He  opened  it  with  blessings,  repeated  and  most  important 
blessings.  But  on  whom  are  they  pronounced?  and  whom  are 
we  taught  to  think  the  happiest  of  mankind?  The  meek  and  the 
humble,  the  penitent  and  the  merciful,  the  peaceful  and  the  pure, 
those  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righleousnes,  those  that  labour, 
but  faint  not  under  persecution  !  Blessed  Jesus  !  how  different  are 
thy  maxims  from  those  of  the  children  of  ihis  world  !  They  call 
the  proud  happy,  and  amire  the  gay,  the  rich,  the  powerful  and  the 
victorious.  But  let  a  vain  world  take  its  gaudy  trifles,  and  dress 
up  the  foolish  creatures  that  pursue  Ihem.  May  our  souls  share 
in  that  happiness  which  the  Son  of  God  came  to  recommend  and 
to  procure!  May  we  obtain  mercy  of  the  Lord;  may  we  be 
owned  as  his  children  ;  may  we  see  his  face;  and  may  we  inherit 
his  kingdom!  With  these  enjoyments,  and  these  hopes,  we  will 
cheerfully  welcome  the  lowest  or  the  most  painful  circumstances. 
Let  us  awaken  and  stir  up  our  souls  to  the  cultivation  of  those 
amiable  virtues  which  are  here  recommended  to  our  pursuit;  this 
kumilily  and  meekness,  this  penitent  sense  of  sin,  this  ardent  desire 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  DW 

after  righteousness,  this  compassion  and  purity,  this  peacefulness  and 
fortitude  of  soul,  and,  in  a  v\'ord,  this  universal  goodness,  which 
becomes  us,  as  we  sustain  the  character  of  the  salt  of  the  earth  and 
the  light  of  the  tcorld. 

Is  not  there  reason  to  lament  it,  that  we  answer  the  character 
no  more?  Is  there  not  reason  to  cry  out,  with  a  good  man  in 
former  times,  '  Blessed  Jesus!  either  these  are  not  thy  words,  or 
we  are  not  Christians ."  Oh,  season  our  liearls  more  effectually 
with  thy  grace  !  Pour  forth  that  Divine  oil  on  our  lanjps  !  Then 
shall  the  flame  brighten ;  then  shall  the  ancient  honours  of  thy 
religion  be  revived  ;  and  multitudes  be  awakened  and  animated 
by  the  lustre  of  it  to  glorify  our  Father  in  heaven.     Amen. 


SECTION  XXI. 
Matthew  v.  17 — 20. 

Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law,  or  the 
prophets:  I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfill. 
For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Till  heaven  and  earth  pass, 
one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the 
law,  till  all  be  fulfilled.  Whosoever  therefore  shall 
break  one  of  these  least  commandments,  and  shall 
teach  men  so,  he  shall  be  called  least  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  :  But  whosoever  shall  do  and  teach  ihenii 
the  same  shall  be  called  great  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  For  I  say  unto  j-^ou,  That  except  your 
righteousness  shall  exceed  the  righteousness  of  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in  no  case  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Ye  have  heard,  that  it  was  said  by  them  of  old 
time,  Thou  shalt  not  kill :  and  whosoever  shall  kill, 
shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  that  whosoever  is  angry  with  his  brother  without 
a  cause,  shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment  :  and 
whosoever  shall  say  to  his  brother,  Raca,  shall  be 
in  danger  of  the  council :  but  whosoever  shall  say, 
Thou  fool,  shall  be  in  danger  of  hell  fire.    Therefore, 


70  HARMONY    OF    THE 

if  thou  bring  thy  gift  to  the  altar,  and  there  remem- 
berest  that  thy  brother  hath  aught  against  thee : 
Leave  there  thy  gift  before  the  aUar,  and  go  thy  way; 
first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother,  and  then  come  and 
offer  thy  gift.  Agree  with  thine  adversary  quickly 
whiles  thou  art  in  the  way  with  him  :  lest  at  any 
time  the  adversary  deliver  thee  to  the  judge,  and  the 
judge  deliver  thee  to  the  officer,  and  thou  be  cast  into 
prison.  Verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  thou  shalt  by  no 
means  come  out  thence,  till  thou  hast  paid  the  utter- 
most farthing. 

Let  us  seriously  consider  and  often  recollect  the  purposes  of 
ChrisVs  appearance  :  he  came  not  to  destroy  the  laio  and  the  prophets, 
or  to  dissolve  men's  obligation  to  observe  them  :  but  rather  to 
enforce  as  well  as  to  fullil  them.  How  fatally  shall  we  pervert 
the  purposes  of  his  comimg,  if  we  regard  him  as  the  minister  of 
sin  !  How  ungiatefully  shall  we  abuse  the  merciful  constitution 
of  his  gospel  should  we  take  encouragement  from  thence  to 
violate  his  law  ?  Dangerous  as  well  as  ungrateful  abuse  indeed! 
For  God's  eye  will  be  watchful  over  its  honours,  and  his  hand 
exerted  to  maintain  them  ;  so  that  heaven  and  earth  shall  pass 
away  before  it  shall  fail  of  its  accomplishment  in  being  either 
obeyed  or  avenged  on  the  impenitent  sinner.  May  it  be  our 
constant  care  to  keep  it  ourselves,  and  to  teach  others  to  observe 
it !  May  we  teach  it  by  our  lives  as  well  as  our  lips  ;  and  let  our 
daily  conversation  demonstrate  how  practicable  and  how  amiable 
its  precepts  are  !  So  shall  we  be  great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
in  the  pursuit  of  \a  hich  we  may  give  full  scope  to  the  noblest 
ambition  of  which  human  nature  is  capable. 

Let  our  hearts  own  and  feel  the  spiritual  sense  of  God's  law, 
that  we  may  rise  to  a  more  sincere  and  more  extensive  HghteoiiS' 
ness  than  that  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees.  May  we  delight  in  it 
after  the  inward  man,  and  learn  to  regulate  our  thoughts  and  our 
passions,  as  well  as  our  external  b  jhaviour,  by  it ! 

Especially  let  us  avoid  all  the  malignant  and  ill-natured  passions, 
all  thoughts  of  rash  and  immoderate  anger,  all  words  of  con- 
tumely and  reproach.  If  we  would  maintain  communion  with  the 
God  of  love,  let  love  govern  in  our  hearts;  and  when  we  come  to 
present  our  devotions  to  him,  let  us  lift  up  holy  hands  withoKt 
wrath,  as  well  as  without  doubting,  (1  Tim.  ii.  8,)  so  may  we 
promise  ourselves  a  gracious  welcome ;  so  shall  we  carry  away 
the  most  valuable  blessings! 

But  are  none  of  us  strangers  to  this  blessed  state  ?  Are  none  of 
us  obnoxious  to  the  Divine  displeasure  ?  If  we  are  so,  with  what 
a  holy  solicitude  of  soul  should  we  labour,  to  make  up  the  contr-a- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  71 

versy  and  come  to  an  agreement,  while  ive  are  yet  in  the  way  with 
this  awful  adversary!  lest  we  be  immediately  hurried  before  the 
tribunal  of  the  righteous  Judge  of  all  the  ivorld,  and  be  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  justice,  to  be  reserved  in  everlasting  chains  beyond 
the  possibility  of  redemption. 

Lord,  we  were  all  the  debtors,  and  in  one  sense,  the  prisoners 
of  thy  justice  ;  and  of  ourselves  we  are  most  incapable,  not  only 
of  paying  the  titlermost  farthing,  but  even  of  discharging  the  least 
part  of  the  debt !  We  bless  thee  for  that  generous  Surety  who 
has  undertaken  and  discharged  it  for  us  :  and  by  the  price  of 
whose  atoning  blood  we  are  delivered  from  the  chains  of  darkness, 
and  are  translated  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  thy  children. 


SECTION  XXII. 

Matthew  v.  27 — 48. 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by  them  of  old  time, 
Thou  shalt  not  commit  aduhery.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  That  whosoever  looketh  on  a  woman  to  lust 
after  her,  hath  committed  adultery  with  her  already 
in  his  heart.  And  if  thy  right  eye  offend  thee,  pluck 
it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee  :  for  it  is  profitable  for 
thee  that  one  of  thy  members  should  perish,  and  not 
that  thy  whole  body  should  be  cast  into  hell.  And 
if  thy  right  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it  off,  and  cast  it 
from  thee  :  for  it  is  profitable  for  thee  that  one  of  thy 
members  should  perish,  and  not  that  thy  whole  body 
should  be  cast  into  hell.  It  hath  been  said.  Who- 
soever shall  put  away  his  w^ife,  let  him  give  her  a 
writing  of  divorcement  :  But  I  say  unto  you.  That 
whosoever  shall  put  away  his  wife,  saving  for  the 
cause  of  fornication,  causeth  her  to  commit  adultery  : 
and  whosoever  shall  marry  her  that  is  divorced  com- 
mitteth  adultery. 

Again  ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said  by  them 
of  old  time.  Thou  shalt  not  forswear  thyself,  but  shalt 
perform  unto  the  Lord  thine  oaths.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  Swear  not  at  all ;  neither  by  heaven,  for  it  is 


72  HARMONY    OF    THE 

God's  throne:  nor  by  the  earth,  for  it  is  his  footstool: 
neither  by  Jerusalem,  for  it  is  the  city  of  the  great 
king.  Neither  shalt  thou  swear  by  thy  head,  because 
thou  canst  not  make  one  hair  white  or  black.  But 
let  your  communication  be,  Yea,  yea,  Nay,  nay :  for 
whatsoever  is  more  than  these,  cometh  of  evil. 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said,  An  eye  for 
an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
That  ye  resist  not  evil  :  but  whosoever  shall  smite 
thee  on  thy  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also. 
And  if  any  man  will  sue  thee  at  the  law,  and  take 
away  thy  coat,  let  him  have  thy  cloak  also.  And 
whosoever  shall  compel  thee  to  go  a  mile,  go  with 
him  twain.  Give  to  him  that  asketh  thee,  and  from 
him  that  would  borrow  of  thee  turn  not  thou  away. 

Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said.  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbour,  and  hate  thine  enemy.  But  I 
say  unto  you.  Love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that 
curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray 
for  them  w^hich  despitefully  use  you  and  persecute 
you  ;  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven :  for  he  maketh  his  sun  to  rise  on 
the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just 
and  on  the  unjust.  For  if  ye  love  them  which  love 
you,  what  reward  have  ye  ?  do  not  even  the  publicans 
the  same  ?  And  if  ye  salute  your  brethren  only,  what 
do  ye  more  than  others  ?  do  not  even  the  publicans 
so  ?  Be  ye  therefore  perfect,  even  as  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect. 

Alas  !  how  may  we  blush  to  call  God  our  Father,  while  we 
resemble  him  so  little  !  And  what  reason  is  there,  on  a  survey 
of  these  directions  of  our  Lord,  to  acknowledge  our  deficiencies 
and  our  faults!  Let  us  review  the  many  advantages  we  enjoy, 
as  Christians,  and  the  engagements  we  are  under  in  the  partic- 
ular circumstances  in  which  Divine  Providence  has  placed  us; 
and  blush  to  think  that  we  do  so  little  more  than  others,  perhaps  in 
many  instances  falling  short  even  of  the  virtues  oC  heathens. 

Let  us  particularly  be  instructed  by  these  lessons  of  our  Divine 
Master  to  recompense  good  for  evil:  lessons  which  come  with 
peculiar  grace  from  his  mouth,  as  he  was  himself  the  kindest 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  73 

friend  to  his  most  inveterate  enemies,  and  bore  and  forgave  more 
than  any  but  himself  could  possibly  do. 

Let  us  who  are  his  disciples,  abhor  contention  and  revenge.  Let 
us  not  prosecute  every  little  injury  to  the  utmost,  nor  govern 
ourselves  by  those  false  maxims  of  prudence  and  honour,  which 
pride  and  self-love  have  introduced  on  the  ruins  of  real  Christian' 
ity.  Let  us  not,  even  in  the  most  legal  methods,  seek  the  pun- 
ishment of  those  who  have  icronged  us,  except  in  circumstances 
in  which  we  are  in  our  conscience  persuaded  it  will,  on  the 
whole,  be  greater  charity  to  animadvert  on  the  offence  than  to 
pass  it  by  ;  and  even  then  let  us  act  in  a  calm  and  dispassionate 
manner,  pitying  and  loving  the  persons  of  the  injurious,  e\en 
while,  for  the  sake  of  society,  we  prosecute  their  crimes. 

If  this  be  our  duty  towards  our  enemies,  how  inexcusable  are 
we  if  we  are  cold  and  insensible  to  our  friends.  And  how  much 
worse  than  publicans  themselves,  if  we  do  not  love  them  that  love  us, 
and  do  good  to  those  from  whom  we  have  received  it.  Happy  is 
that  Christian  to  whom  the  God  of  nature  hath  given  a  heart  so 
turned  to  sentiments  of  benevolence  that,  in  all  these  instances, 
love  is  a  law  unto  itself. 

Yet  let  us  remember,  that  the  whole  of  our  duty  is  not  com- 
prehended in  these  social  regards.  The  great  Author  of  our  being, 
who  hath  endowed  us  with  rational  faculties,  justly  requires  that 
we  assert  their  empire  over  the  meaner  powers  of  appetite  and 
passion.  "VVe  see  that  he  forbids  not  only  gross  enormities,  as 
adultery,  (which,  though  so  unaccountably  spared  by  the  laws  of 
many  Christian  countries,  the  heathens  themselves  have  con- 
demned as  a  capital  crime,  and  which  some  of  the  most  barbarous 
nations  have  esteemed  infamous,)  but  the  tinchastity  o{  the  eye  and 
of  the  heart.  Let  us  then  earnesily  pray  that  God  would  create  in 
us  a  clean  heart,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  us ;  (Psalm  li.  10  •) 
and  let  us  maintain  a  most  resolute  guard  over  our  senses  and 
our  thoughts,  remembering  that  there  is  no  other  alternative,  but 
that  the  dearest  of  our  lusts  must  be  mortified  and  subdued,  or  our 
whole  persons  be  cast  into  hell. 

Elevate  our  affections,  O  Lord,  to  nobler  objects  than  those 
which  are  suited  merely  to  animal  nature !  Teach  us  to  keep 
under  the  body,  and  bring  it  under  subjection,  (1  Cor.  ix.  27,)  that 
we  may  not  finally  be  cast  away  from  thy  presence,  and  fall  into 
that  dreadful  state  where  every  drop  of  sinful  pleasure  will  be 
recompensed  with  full  vials  of  misery  and  despair! 


8 


74  HARMONY    OF    THE 

SECTION  XXIV. 

Matt.  vi.  1 — 18. 

Take  heed  that  you  do  not  your  alms  before  men,  to 
be  seen  of  them  :  otherwise  ye  have  no  reward  of 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Therefore,  when 
thou  doest  thine  alms,  do  not  sound  a  trumpet  before 
thee,  as  the  hypocrites  do,  in  the  synagogues,  and  in 
the  streets,  that  they  may  have  glory  of  men.  Verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  they  have  their  reward.  But  when 
thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know  what  thy 
right  hand  doeth  :  that  thine  alms  may  be  in  secret : 
and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  himself  shall 
reward  thee  openly. 

And  when  thou  prayest,  thou  shalt  not  be  as  the 
hypocrites  are  ;  for  they  love  to  pray  standing  in  the 
synagogues,  and  in  the  corners  of  the  streets,  that 
they  may  be  seen  of  men.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
They  have  their  reward.  But  thou,  when  thou 
prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast 
shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret, 
and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward 
thee  openly. 

But  when  ye  pray,  use  not  vain  repetitions,  as  the 
heathen  do :  for  they  think  that  they  shall  be  heard 
for  their  much  speaking.  Be  not  ye  therefore  like 
unto  them  :  for  your  Father  knoweth  what  things  ye 
have  need  of,  before  ye  ask  him.  After  this  manner 
therefore  pray  ye  : — 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven.  Hallowed  be 
thy  name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done 
in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread.  And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive 
our  debtors.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but 
deliver  us  from  evil.  For  thine  is  the  kingdom,  and 
the  power,  and  the  glory,  for  ever.     Amen. 

For  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your  heav- 
enly Father  will  also  forgive  you.     But  if  ye  forgive 


FOUR    GOSPELS. 


?8 


not  men    their  trespasses,  neither  will  your  Father 
forgive  your  trespasses. 

Moreover,  when  ye  fast,  be  not  as  the  hypocrites, 
of  a  sad  countenance :  for  they  disfigure  their  faces 
that  they  may  appear  unto  men  to  fast.  Verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  they  have  their  reward.  But  thou,  when 
thou  fastest,  anoint  thy  head  and  wash  thy  face  ;  that 
thou  appear  not  unto  men  to  fast,  but  unto  thy  Father 
which  is  in  secret  :  and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in 
secret,  shall  reward  thee  openly. 

Let  us  learn  from  these  repeated  admonitions  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer  what  is  the  only  acceptable  principle  of  every  religious 
action  ;  namely,  a  desire  to  approve  ourselves  to  God  in  it  :  and 
let  us  particularly  bring  it  into  the  instances  in  which  it  is  here 
recommended. 

Our  Lord  takes  it  for  granted  that  his  disciples  would  be  both 
charitable  and  devout.  Let  us  cultivate  both  these  branches  of 
the  Christian  temper  and  avoid  ostentation  in  both  ;  as  remember- 
ing the  day  approaches  when  every  ©ne  of  us  must  be  made  mani- 
fesl  in  his  true  character  before  the  tribunal  of  Christ.  And,  oh, 
what  discoveries  will  then  be  opened  upon  the  world  !  How 
many  specious  masks  will  be  plucked  off,  that  the  hypocrite''s 
character  may  appear  in  its  native  deformity  !  And,  on  the  other 
hand,  how  many  secret  acts  of  piety  and  benevolence,  which  have 
been  industriously  concealed  from  human  observation,  will  then 
shine  forth  in  all  their  glory,  celebrated  and  rewarded  by  God 
himself,  who  sees  in  secret,  and  whose  eye  penetrates  all  the 
recesses  of  our  houses  and  our  hearts  ! 

There  may  our  praise  and  our  portion  be  !  In  the  mean  time  let 
us  with  humble  pleasure  obey  the  call  of  our  Divine  Master,  and 
be  often  addressing-  our  heavenly  Father  in  such  language  as  he 
hath  taught  us  ;  entering,  for  secret  exercise  of  devotion  into  our 
closet  and  shutting  our  door,  excluding  (as  far  as  possible)  every 
thought  which  would  interrupt  us  in  these  sacred  and  happy 
moments.  From  thence  let  our  prayers  daily  come  up  before  the 
throne  like  incense,  and  the  lifting  up  of  our  hands  be  as  the  morning 
and  the  evening  sacrifice.     (Psalm  cxli.  2.) 

Christ  himself  has  condescended  to  teach  us  to  pray.  Attentive 
to  his  precepts,  animated  by  his  example  aad  emboldened  by  his 
intercession,  let  us  learn  and  practise  the  lesson.  Shed  abroad 
on  our  hearts,  O  Lord,  thy  Spirit  of  adoption,  which  may  teach  us 
to  cry  Abba  Father !  to  draw  nigh  to  thee  with  filial  reverence  and 
confidence  and  with  fraternal  charity  for  each  other,  even  for  the 
whole  family,  to  whom  thou  graciously  ownest  the  relation  ! 
Inspire  us  with  that  zeal  for  thy  glory  which  may  render  the 
honour  onhyname,  the  prosperity  of  thy  kingdom,  and  theaccom- 


76  HARMONY  OF  THE 

plishment  of  thy  will  far  dearer  to  us  than  any  interest  of  our 
own!  On  tliee  may  we  maintain  a  cheerful  dependance  for  our 
daily  bread,  and  having  food  and  raiment,  be  thercxoith  content, 
(1  Tim.  vi.  8.)  most  solicitously  seeking  the  pardon  of  our  past 
sins  and  the  influences  of  thy  grace  to  preserve  us  from  future 
temptations,  or  to  secure  us  in  them  !  And  may  our  sense  of  that 
need  in  which  we  stand  oC  forgiveness  from  thee,  dispose  us  cor- 
dially to  forgive  each  other,  especially  as  thou  hast  wisely  and 
and  graciously  made  this  the  necessary  means  of  receiving  our 
own  pardon  !  Our  corrupted  hearts  are  too  little  disposed  for 
these  sentiments  ;  but  may  God's  Almighty  power  produce  and 
cherish  them  in  us  !  and  while  the  comfort  is  ours  may  all  the  glory 
be  his,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  !    Amen. 


SECTION  XXV. 
Matt.  vi.  19 — 34. 

Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth, 
where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves 
break  through  and  ^steal.  But  lay  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  in  heaven,  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth 
corrupt,  and  where  thiev^es  do  not  break  through  nor 
steal.  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will  your 
heart  be  also.  The  light  of  the  body  is  the  eye  ; 
if  therefore  thine  eye  be  single,  thy  whole  body  shall 
be  full  of  light.  But  if  thine  eye  be  evil,  thy  whole 
body  shall  be  full  of  darkness.  If  therefore  the 
light  that  is  in  thee  be  darkness,  how  great  is  that 
darkness  ! 

No  man  can  serve  two  masters  :  for  either  he  will 
hate  the  one,  and  love  the  other;  or  else  he  will 
hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the  other.  Ye  cannot 
serve  God  and  mammon.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you. 
Take  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
what  ye  shall  drink  ;  nor  yet  for  your  body,  what  ye 
shall  put  on.  Is  not  the  life  more  than  meat,  and 
the  body  than  raiment?  Behold  the  fowls  of  the 
air :  for  they  sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor 
gather  into  barns  ;  yet  your  heavenly  Father  feedeth 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  77 

them.  Are  not  ye  much  better  than  they  ?  Which 
of  you  by  taking  thought  can  add  one  cubit  unto  his 
stature  ?  And  why  take  ye  thought  for  raiment  ? 
Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they  grow  ;  they 
toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin.  And  yet  I  say  unto 
you,  That  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
arrayed  like  one  of  these.  Wherefore,  if  God  so 
clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is,  and  to- 
morrow is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he  not  much  more 
clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith?  Therefore  take  no 
thought,  saying.  What  shall  we  eat  ?  or  what  shall 
we  drink  ?  or  wherewithal  shall  Ave  be  clothed  ?  (For 
after  all  these  things  do  the  Gentiles  seek  :)  for  your 
heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all 
these  things.  But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  shall  be 
added  unto  you.  Take  therefore  no  thought  for  the 
morrow  ;  for  the  morrow  shall  take  thought  for  the 
things  of  itself:  sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil 
thereof. 


How  kind  are  Wxese yireccpls  of  our  blessed  Redeemer  ;  the  sub- 
stance of  which  is  indeed  but  this,  Do  thyself  no  harm.  Let  us 
not  be  so  ungrateful  to  him  and  so  injurious  to  ourselves,  as  to 
harass  and  oppress  our  minds  with  that  burden  oi^  anxiety  which  he 
has  so  graciously  taken  off!  Every  verse  and  clause  we  have  been 
reading  speaks  at  once  to  the  understanding  and  the  heart.  We 
will  not  therefore  indulge  these  unnecessary,  these  useless,  these 
mischievous  cares;  we  will  not  borrow  the  anxieties  and  distresses 
of  the  morrow  to  aggravate  those  of  the  present  day :  but  rather 
will  we  cheerfully  repose  ourselves  on  that  heavenly  Father  who 
knofics  that  we  need  these  things,  and  has  given  us  life,  which  is 
more  than  meat ;  and  the  body,  which  is  more  than  raiment;  and 
thus  instructed  in  the  philosophy  of  our  heavenly  Master  will 
learn  a  lesson  of  faith  and  cheerfulness  from  every  bird  of  the  air, 
and  every  flower  of  the  field. 

Let  the  Gentiles  that  know  not  God  perplex  their  minds  with 
unworthy  suspicions,  or  bow  them  down  to  the  ignoble  servitude 
of  Mammon,  that  base  rival  of  our  Viving  Jehovah ;  but  we,  far 
from  desiring  to  share  our  hearts  and  our  services  between  two 
such  contrary  masters,  will  cheerfully  devote  them  to  him,  whose 
right  to  them  is  so  infinitely  beyond  all  room  for  any  contest. 
Let  us  take  heed  and  beware  of  covetousness,  and  make  it  our 

8* 


78  HARMONY  OF  THE 

business  not  to  hoard  up  earthly  and  corruptible  treasures,  hot  first 
seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness ;  so  shall  other  things 
be  added  for  present  subsistence  j  and  so  shall  we  larj  upin  store  an 
incorruptible  treasure  in  heaven,  in  which  we  shall  be  rich  and 
happy,  when  the  riches  of  this  world  are  consumed  with  their 
owners,  and  the  whole /as/iion  of  it  is  passed  away. 

While  these  divine  maxims  are  spreading  their  light  about  us, 
let  our  eye  be  dear  to  behold  them,  and  our  heart  open  to  receive 
them  :  and  let  us  cautiously  guard  against  those  deceitful  princi- 
ples of  action  which  would  give  a  wrong  bias  to  all  our  pursuits, 
and  turn  the  light  which  is  in  us  into  a  fatal  and  incurable  dark- 
ness. 


SECTION  XXVI. 
Matthew  vii.  1 — 20. 

Judge  not,  that  ye  be  not  judged  :  for  with  what 
judgment  ye  judge,  ye  shall  be  judged  ;  and  with 
what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again.  And  why  beholdest  thou  the  mote  that  is 
in  thy  brother's  eye,  but  considerest  not  the  beam 
that  is  in  thine  own  eye  ?  or  how  wilt  thou  say  to  thy 
brother,  Let  me  pull  out  the  mote  out  of  thine  eye  ;  and 
behold  a  beam  is  in  thine  own  eye  ?  Thou  hypocrite, 
first  cast  out  the  beam  out  of  thine  own  eye  ;  and  then 
shalt  thou  see  clearly  to  cast  out  the  mote  out  of  thy 
brother's  eye. 

Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto  the  dogs,  neither 
cast  ye  your  pearls  before  swine,  lest  they  trample 
them  under  their  feet,  and  turn  again,  and  rend  you. 

Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you  :  seek,  and  ye  shall 
find  :  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you.  For 
every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and  he  that  seeketh 
findeth  ;  and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be  opened. 
Or  what  man  is  there  of  you,  whom  if  his  son  ask 
bread,  will  he  give  him  a  stone  ?  or  if  he  ask  a  fish,  will 
he  give  him  a  serpent  ?  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know 
how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  79 

more  shall  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  give  good 
things  to  them  that  ask  him  ?  Therfore  all  things 
whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you, 
do  ye  even  so  to  them  :  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
prophets. 

Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait  gate  for  wide  is  the  gate, 
and  broad  is  the  way,  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and 
many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat  :  Because  strait  is 
the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  waj--  which  leadeth  unto 
life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it. 

Beware  of  false  prophets,  which  come  to  you  in 
sheep's  clothing,  but  inwardly  they  are  ravening 
wolves.  Ye  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits  :  Do 
men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of  thistles  ?  Even 
so  every  good  tree  bringeth  forth  good  fruit,  but  a 
corrupt  tree  bringeth  forth  evil  fruit.  A  good  tree 
cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit :  neither  ca7i  a  corrupt 
tree  bring  forth  good  fruit.  For  every  tree  is  known 
by  his  own  fruit.  Every  tree  that  bringeth  not  forth 
good  fruit,  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 
Wherefore  by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them. 


When  will  the  happy  time  come  in  which  Christians  shall  form 
themselves  on  these  important  jnaxims  of  their  great  Master  ? 
When  shall  they  be  known  to  be  his  disciples  by  the  candour  of 
their  sentiments,  the  equity  of  their  conduct,  and  the  beneficence 
of  their  actions,  as  well  as  by  the  articles  of  their  faith  and  the 
forms  of  their  xoorship.  Let  us  all  apply  these  charges  to  our- 
selves in  the  dear  and  awful  name  of  him  that  gave  them. 

What  can  be  more  dreadful  to  us  than  to  think  of  being 
severely  judged  by  that  God,  without  whose  hourly  forbearance 
and  gracious  indulgence  we  are  all  undone?  Let  us  then  exercise 
that  mercy  which  we  need  :  and  to  form  our  minds  to  this  most 
reasonable  temper,  let  us  often  be  thinking  of  our  own  many 
infirmities,  and  be  humbling  ourselves  before  God  on  account  of 
them. 

Animated  by  the  gracious  invitations  and  the  precious  promises 
which  are  here  given,  with  earnest  importunity  let  us  make  our 
daily  addresses  to  his  throne  ;  asking,  that  we  may  receive;  seed- 
ing", that  -we  may  find;  knocking,  that  the  door  of  mercy  may 
be  opened  to  us.  And  while  any  of  us  feel  in  our  hearts  the 
workings  of  parental  tenderness  towards  our  infant  offspring,  let 
us  consider  it  as  a  delightful  emblem  of  yet  greater  readiness  in  our 
heavenly  Father  to  pity  and  relieve  his  children. 


80  HARMONY    OF    THE 

May  universal  righteousness  and  charity  be  practised  by  us  in 
the  whole  of  our  behaviour,  and  may  we  always  exercise  ourselves 
herein  to  have  a  conscience  void  of  offence,  both  towards  God  and  to- 
wards men.  (Acts  xxiv.  16.)  May  we  avoidallmanner  of  injustice, 
and  guard  against  the  sallies  of  a  proud  and  over-bearing  temper! 
May  we  be  upright  and  benevolent  in  all  our  conduct ;  and  make 
it  our  constant  care  to  govern  our  actions  by  that  most  equitable 
rule,  Of  doing  to  others  as  xoe  would  reasonably  desire  they  should 
do  to  us,  on  a  change  of  our  circumstances  and  theirs  !  Happy 
those  generous  souls  in  whom  the  bias  of  self-love  is  so  rectified, 
that  they  can,  in  this  instance,  hold  the  balance  between  them- 
selves and  others  with  an  impartial  and  unwavering  hand  ! 

On  the  whole,  let  us  remember  that  we  ourselves  are  at  last  to 
be  tried  by  the  rule  by  which  we  are  here  directed  to  judge  of 
others,  even  by  the  fruits  which  we  produce.  May  God  by  his 
grace  make  the  tree  good,  that  the  productions  of  it  may  be  found 
to  his  glory  and  the  refreshment  of  all  around  us,  that  we  may  not 
be  cut  down  as  cucumbers  of  the  ground,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 

The  way  of  life,  which  our  blessed  Redeemer  has  marked  out  for 
us  in  such  precepts  as  these,  may  indeed  to  corrupt  nature  appear 
rugged  and  narrow,  and  the  gate  strait  through  which  we  are  to 
pass  :  but  let  us  encourage  ourselves  against  all  the  difficulties,  by 
considering  that  immortal  life  and  glory  to  which  they  infallibly 
lead.  Then  shall  we,  doubtless,  prefer  the  most  painful  way  of 
piety  and  virtue,  though  with  yet  fewer  companions  than  we  might 
reasonably  expect,  to  all  those  floivery  and  frequented  paths  of  vice 
which  go  down  to  the  chambers  of  death. 


SECTION  XXVII. 


Matthew  vii.  21 — 29. 


Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord,  shall 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  :  but  he  that  doeth 
the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  Many 
will  say  to  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have  we  not 
prophesied,  in  thy  name  ?  and  in  thy  name  have  cast 
out  devils  ?  and  in  thy  name  done  many  wonderful 
works  ?  And  then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  never 
knew  you  :  depart  from  me,  ye  that  work  iniquity. 
Therefore,  whosoever  heareth  these  sayings  of  mine, 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  81 

and  doeth  them,  I  will  liken  him  unto  a  wise  man, 
which  built  his  house  upon  a  rock  :  and  the  rain 
descended,  and  the  floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew, 
and  beat  upon  that  house,  and  it  fell  not ;  for  it  was 
founded  upon  a  rock.  And  ever}^  one  that  heareth 
these  sayings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not,  shall  be 
likened  unto  a  foolish  man,  which  built  his  house 
upon  the  sand.  And  the  rain  descended,  and  the 
floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  upon  that 
house  ;    and  it  fell,  and  great  was  the  fall  of  it. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had  ended  these 
sayings,  the  people  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine. 
For  he  taught  them  as  one  having  authority,  and  not 
as  the  Scribes. 

How  justly  may  our  admiration  concur  with  theirs  that  heard 
these  sayings  of  our  Lord,  while  we  liave  the  honour  and  pleasure 
of  attending  these  discourses  as  the  inspired  penmen  have  re- 
corded them,  by  the  assistance  of  that  Spirit  who  was  to  bring  all 
thi7igs  to  their  remembrance.  Are  we  not  struck  with  the  authority 
of  this  Divine  Teacher,  so  as  to  bear- our  loitnsss  to  (he  gracious  and 
edifying  words  thatproceedeth  out  of  his  mouth  ?     (Luke  iv.  22.) 

Let  us  not  content  ourselves  with  applauding  what  we  have 
heard,  but  let  us  go  away  and  practice  it.  Shortly  will  that 
stormy  day  arise  which  must  try  the  foundation  oi^  our  hopes.  God 
will  lay  judgment  to  the  line  and  righteousness  to  the  plummet ;  and  the 
hail  shall  siveep  aioay  the  refuge  of  lies,  and  the  icalers  shall  overflow 
the  hiding-place.  How  thankful  should  we  be  that  God  has  laid  in 
Zion  for  a  foundation,  a  chief  Corner-stone,  elect  and  precious  ;  with 
an  assurance,  that  he  that  believeth  07i  him  shall  not  be  confounded. 
(Compare  Isaiah  xxviii.  16,  et  seq.  and  1  Peter  ii.  6.)  But  let  every 
man  take  heed  hoio  he  builds  thereupon  ;  lest  the  weight  of  his  ruin 
be  proportionable  to  the  height  of  his  hopes.     (1  Cor.  iii.  10.) 

We  say  unto  Christ,  Lord,  Lord;  but  let  us  remember  this 
will  not  secure  our  entering  into  his  heavenly  kingdom.  Whatever 
be  oar  profession,  or  whatever  our  office  in  his  church,  the  most 
splendid  and  honourable  of  our  loorks  will  be  vain,  if  we  are  found 
workers  of  iniquity  ;  for  our  great  J\Iaster  will  then  disown  us  as 
those  whom  he  has  never  approved.  Blessed  Jesus,  it  will  then  be 
in  vain  to  fly  to  thee  with  the  importunity  of  prayer,  and  to  re- 
peat the  most  earnest  addresses.  We  would  now,  while  yet 
there  is  room  for  it,  fall  down  before  thee,  entreating  thee  to  add 
the  teachings  of  thy  Spirit  to  those  of  thy  word,  that  we  may  be 
effectually  engaged  to  do  the  will  of  thine  heavenly  Father,  that  we 
may  finally  be  confessed  arid  owned  by  thee  and  be  admitted  into 
the  joy  of  our  Lord. 


82  HARMONY  OF  THE 


SECTION  XXVIII. 

Matthew  viii.  1. — Luke  v.  1 — 11. 

When  he  was  come  down  from  the  mountain,  great 
muhitudes  followed  him. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  the  people  pressed  upon 
him  to  hear  the  word  of  God,  he  stood  by  the  lake  of 
Gennesaret,  and  saw  two  ships  standing  by  the  lake  : 
but  the  fishermen  were  gone  out  of  them,  and  were 
washing  their  nets.  And  he  entered  into  one  of  the 
ships,  which  was  Simon's,  and  prayed  him  that  he 
would  thrust  out  a  little  from  the  land :  and  he  sat 
down  and  taught  the  people  out  of  the  ship.  Now 
Vv'hen  he  had  left  speaking,  he  said  unto  Simon, 
Launch  out  into  the  deep,  and  let  down  your  nets  for 
a  draught.  And  Simon  answering  said  unto  him. 
Master,  we  have  toiled  all  the  night,  and  have  taken 
nothing  ;  nevertheless  at  thy  word  I  will  let  down  the 
net.  And  when  they  had  this  done,  they  enclosed  a 
great  multitude  of  fishes  :  and  their  net  brake.  And 
they  beckoned  unto  their  partners,  which  were  in  the 
other  ship,  that  they  should  come  and  help  them. 
And  they  came  and  filled  both  the  ships,  so  that  they 
began  to  sink.  When  Simon  Peter  saw  it,  he  fell 
down  at  Jesus'  knees,  saying.  Depart  from  me,  for  I 
am  a  sinful  man,  O  Lord.  For  he  was  astonished, 
and  all  that  were  with  him,  at  the  draught  of  the 
fishes,  which  they  had  taken  :  And  so  was  also  James 
and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  which  were  partners 
with  Simon.  And  Jesus  said  unto  Simon,  Fear  not ; 
from  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch  men.  And  when 
they  had  brought  their  ships  to  land,  they  forsook  all, 
and  followed  him. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  83 

How  wonderful  a  choice  does  Jesus  make  of  those  who  were 
to  be  the  chief  ministers  in  his  liingdoni !  Surely  the  same  Divine 
power  which  prevailed  on  these  honest  fishermen  to  leave  their 
little  all,  to  folloxo  him,  could  with  equal  ease  have  subdued  the 
hearts  of  the  greatest  and  wisest  of  the  nation,  and  have  engaged 
them  to  have  attended  him  in  all  his  progress  through  the 
country,  with  the  exactest  observance  and  the  humblest  rever- 
ence :  but  he  chose  rather  to  preserve  the  humble  form  in  which 
he  at  first  appeared,  that  thus  he  might  answer  the  schemes  of 
Providence,  and  by  the  weak  things  of  the  world  confound  them  that 
are  mightij.     (1  Cor.  i.  27.) 

Yet  we  may  observe  that  he  does  not  go  to  call  them  that 
stood  all  the  day  idle;  but,  on  the  contrary,  confers  this  honour 
upon  honest  industry  ;  on  them  that  had  been  toiling  all  the  flight 
in  their  proper  duties  of  their  station,  and  profession  in  life.  Let 
us  pursue  our  business  with  vigilance  and  resolution  ;  assuring 
ourselves  that,  however  mean  it  be,  Christ  will  graciously  accept 
us  in  it ;  and  let  us  fix  our  dependance  on  his  blessing,  as  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  our  success. 

These  pious  fishermen  let  down  their  nets  at  ChrisVs  word,  and 
it  was  not  in  vain.  How  vast  was  that  power  which  brought 
such  a  mxdtitude  of  fishes  into  it !  but  how  much  greater  and  more 
apparently  Divine  was  the  energy  which,  by  the  ministration  of 
one  of  these  illiterate  men,  converted  at  once  a  much  greater 
number  of  souls,  and  turned  the  despisers  and  murderers  of  Christ 
into  his  adorers  !     (See  Acts  ii.  41.) 

Blessed  Jesus,  we  would  humbly  bow  ourselves  before  thee  as 
the  Lord  of  nature  and  of  grace ;  and  instead  of  saying  with 
Peter,  Depart  from  us,  for  loe  are  sinful  men,  we  would  rather  say, 
^  Lord,  for  that  very  reason,  while  we  own  ourselves  most  un- 
worthy of  thy  presence,  we  most  importunately  entreat  it:  Come 
unto  me,  0  Lord,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man,  and  if  thou  stand  at  a 
distance  from  me,  I  perish!  Come,  and  recover  my  heart  from 
the  tyranny  of  sin  ;  come,  and  possess  and  fix  it  for  thyself!' 

That  secret  power  which  these  good  men  felt  on  their  souls 
while  the  words  of  Christ  were  sounding  in  their  ears  would  be  to 
them  a  token  for  good  as  to  the  success  of  their  ministry  upon 
others.  Surely  we  cannot  wish  any  thing  of  greater  importance 
for  the  edification  of  the  church,  than  that  the  persons  who  are 
employed  in  its  public  offices  may  themselves  experimentally 
know  the  power  of  Divine  grace,  and  be  brought  to  a  determina- 
tion to  follow  Christ  whithersoever  he  goeth,  before  they  under- 
take to  invite  and  persuade  others  to  do  it. 


84  HARMONY    OF    THE 

SECTION  XXIX. 

Matt.  viii.  2 — 4.  Mark  i.  40 — 45.  Luke  v.  12 — 16. 

And  behold,  there  came  a  man  full  of  leprosy,  who 
seeing  Jesus,  and  kneeling  down  unto  him,  fell  on 
Ai5  face,  worshipped  him,  and  besought  him,  saying 
unto  him,  Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me 
clean.  And  Jesus,  moved  with  compassion,  put  forth 
his  hand,  and  touched  him,  and  saith  unto  him,  I 
will,  be  thou  clean.  And  as  soon  as  he  had  spoken, 
immediately  the  leprosy  departed  from  him,  and  he 
was  cleansed.  And  he  straitly  charged  him,  and 
forthwith  sent  him  away  :  and  saith  unto  him,  See 
thou  say  nothing  to  any  man :  but  go  thy  way,  shew 
thyself  to  the  priest,  and  offer  for  thy  cleansing  those 
things  which  Moses  commanded,  for  a  testimony 
unto  them.  But  he  went  out,  and  began  to  publish 
it  much,  and  to  blaze  abroad  the  matter,  and  so 
much  the  more  went  there  a  fame  abroad  of  him  : 
insomuch  that  Jesus  could  no  more  openly  enter 
into  the  city :  For  great  multitudes  came  together 
to  hear,  and  to  be  healed  by  him  of  their  infirmities. 
But  he  withdrew  himself,  and  was  without  in  desert 
places,  and  prayed :  and  they  came  to  him  from 
every  quarter. 

Our  souls  are  overspread  with  the  leprosy  of  sin ;  and  where 
should  we  apply  for  help  but  to  the  healing  power  and  recovering 
grace  of  the  great  Redeemer.  Be  the  malady  ever  so  deep, 
spreading  or  inveterate,  we  may  surely  adopt  the  words  of  the 
leper  before  us,  and  say,  Lord,  if  thou  icilt,  thou  canst  make  me 
clean.  And  how  much  reason  have  we  to  hope  this  compassion 
will  be  moved  in  our  favour,  and  his  power  exerted  in  our  cure! 

If  we  have  received  that  favour,  we  are  under  the  obligation  of 
710  command  to  conceal  it.  It  is,  on  the  contrary,  our  duty  most 
gratefully  to  publish  it  abroad,  for  the  honour  of  our  Benefactor, 
and  the  advantage  of  those  who  may  be  encouraged  to  make  the 
same  application  in  humble  hope  of  the  same  success. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  85 

But  when  will  the  happy  time  come  that  men  shall  be  as 
solicitous  about  their  spiritual  welfare  as  about  the  health  of  this 
mortal  body?  Almighty  Physician!  exert  thine  energy  in  this 
instance  as  a  token  of  farther  favours  !  Convince  men  of  their 
pollution  and  danger,  and  bow  their  stubborn  knee,  that  it  roay 
bend  in  submissive  and  importunate  supplication  ! 

Let  the  compassionate  air  with  which  this  cure  was  wrought,  be 
considered  by  all  spiritual  physicians  as  a  lesson  of  condescension 
and  tenderness  ;  and  let  the  modesty,  with  which  it  was  conducted 
engage  us  to  avoid  every  appearance  of  ostentation   and  vain 

To  conclude  ;  since  Christ  himself  found  it  proper  to  retire  into 
a  desert  place  to  pray,  when  crowds  of  admirers  were  flocking  in 
upon  him,  let  it  teach  those  who  are  engaged  in  the  scenes  of 
public  business  and  fill  them  up  with  the  greatest  applause,  yet 
resolutely  to  command  some  seasons  for  retirement  j  as  remem- 
bering, that  the  more  various  and  important  our  public  labours 
are,  the  more  evidently  do  we  need  to  draw  down  succour  by 
ardent  prayer,  that  we  may  be  strengthened  and  prospered  in 
them. 


SECTION  XXX. 

Matt.  ix.  2 — 8. — Mark  ii.   1 — 12. — Luke  v. 
17—26. 

And  again  he  entered  into  Capernaum  after  some 
days,  and  it  was  noised  that  he  was  in  the  house. 
And  straightway  many  were  gathered  together,  inso- 
much that  there  was  no  room  to  receive  them,  no, 
not  so  much  as  about  the  door  :  and  he  preached 
the  word  unto  them.  And  it  came  to  pass,  on  a 
certain  day,  as  he  was  teaching,  there  were  Phar- 
isees, and  doctors  of  the  law  sitting  by,  which  were 
come  out  of  every  town  of  Galilee,  and  Judea,  and 
Jerusalem  :  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  present 
to  heal  them.  And  behold,  men  came  unto  him, 
bringing  a  man  sick  of  the  palsy,  lying  on  a  bed, 
which  was  borne  of  four.  And  they  sought  means 
to  bring  him  in,  and  to  lay  him  before  him.  And 
w^hen  they  could  not  come  nigh  unto  him  for  the 
press,  nor  find  by  what  way  they  might  bring  him  in, 
because  of  the  multitude,  they  went  upon  the  house- 

9 


86  HARMONY    or    THE 

top,  uncovered  the  roof  where  he  was,  and  when  they 

had  broken  it  up,  they  let  him  down  through  the 
tiling  with  his  couch,  into  the  midst  before  Jesus. 
And  when  he  saw  their  faith,  he  said  unto  the  sick 
of  the  palsy,  Son,  be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins  are 
forgiven  thee.  And  behold,  certain  of  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  sitting  there  began  to  reason  within 
themselves,  saying.  Who  is  this  w^hich  speaketh 
blasphemies  !  Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone  ? 
And  immediately,  when  Jesus  perceived  in  his  spirit, 
that  they  so  reasoned  within  themselves,  knowing 
their  thoughts,  he,  answering,  said  unto  them,  Why 
reason  ye  these  things  ?  Wherefore  think  ye  evil  in 
your  hearts  ?  For  whether  is  it  easier,  to  say  to  the 
sick  of  the  palsy.  Thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee,  or  to 
say,  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk  ?  But 
that  ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of  man  hath  power 
upon  earth  to  forgive  sins,  (he  saith  to  the  sick  of  the 
palsy,)  I  say  unto  thee.  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  bed, 
and  go  thy  way  into  thine  house.  And  immediately 
he  rose  up  before  them,  and  took  up  his  bed,  and 
went  forth  before  them  all,  and  departed  to  his  own 
house,  glorifying  God,  insomuch  that  when  the  mul- 
titude saw  it,  they  marvelled,  and  were  all  amazed, 
and  glorified  God,  which  had  given  such  power  unto 
men,  and  were  filled  with  fear,  saying.  We  never 
saw  it  on  this  fashion.  We  have  seen  strange  things 
to-day. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  reflect  upon  it  that  Christ  was  attended  by 
such  vast  numbers  of  people,  and  that  they  who  were  teachers  of 
others  should  themselves  sit  down  to  hear  him.  But  it  is  melan- 
choly to  reflect  on  the  perverse  purposes  with  which  many  of 
them  came  ;  and  how  few  did,  on  the  whole,  receive  his  icord  into 
their  hearts,  so  as  to  bring  forth  fndt  unto  perfection.  Curiosity  led 
some,  and  interest  others  ;  and  some  came  to  find  occasion  of 
hurting  him  whose  whole  business  in  life  was  to  do  good.  Yet 
these  low,  these  vile  purposes  did  not  prevent  his  preaching  and 
working  miracles  before  them,  and  being  ready  to  exert  his  poiver 
for  their  benefit.  Thus  courageous  and  resolute  let  us  be  in  the 
discharge  of  our  duty  ;  thus  solicitous,  that  we  may  not  be  over- 
come of  evil,  but  may  (which,  on  the  whole,  is  always  in  some 
degree  practicable)  overcome  evil  with  good.    Rom.  xii.  21. 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  87 

How  industrious  were  the  attendants  and  friends  of  this  poor 
paralytic  to  obtain  a  cure  for  him  !  What  contrivance,  what  labour 
did  they  use  to  tind  a  proper  opportunity  to  bring  him  in,  and  lay 
him  before  Jesus.  Ought  we  not  to  be  as  tender  and  zealous  in  all 
the  offices  of  the  truest  friendship;  and  to  imitate,  so  far  as  suits 
iho  difference  of  circumstances,  their  importunate  application  and 
tljcir  lively /ai</i? 

Theirs  had  its  praise  and  its  rewarrl.  Our  Lord  said  to  this 
distempered  person,  Thy  sins  are  forgive  )i  thee.  He  pardoned  all 
his  iniquities,  while  he  healed  all  his  diseases.  Ps.  ciii,  3.  This  was 
a  blessing  that  would  render  the  cure  yet  incomparably  more 
valuable ;  and  this  reviving  declaration  had  the  Sou  of  God  a 
power  to  add  and  to  pronounce.  The  scribes  and  Pharisees,  igno- 
rant and  prejudiced  as  they  were,  considered  such  a  declaration 
as  blasphemy.  Their  principle  indeed  was  right,  that  God  alone 
has  power  to  forgive  sins,  and  it  is  impious  for  men  to  claim  it ;  but 
their  application  was  evidently  wrong.  The  miraculous  effect  plainly 
shewed  the  Divine  authority  of  the  blessed  Jesus.  And  he  has 
sUW  the  key  of  David ;  he  openeih  and  no  man  shitteth ;  and  shutteth 
and  no  man  openeth.  Rev.  iii.  7.  Almighty  Saviour,  may  we  each 
of  us  receive  from  thee  forgiveness  of  our  sins ;  and  we  will  not 
complain  though  our  sickyiesses  should  not  immediately  be  re- 
moved i  Let  us  glorify  God  who  has  given  this  power  to  his  Son  ; 
and  thankfully  acknowledge  that  we  arc  ourselves,  in  many 
respects,  the  monuments  both  of  h\3  par doning  Siud  healing  rm^rcy. 


SECTION  XXXI. 

Matt.    ix.  9— 17.— Mark    ii.    13— 22.— Luke    v. 

27—39. 

And  after  these  things  he  went  forth  again  by  the 
sea  side,  and  all  the  multitude  resorted  unto  him, 
and  he  taught  them.  And  as  he  passed  forth  from 
thence,  he  saw  a  publican,  named  Matthew  or  Levi, 
the  son  of  Alpheus,  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom : 
and  he  said  unto  him.  Follow  me.  And  he  left  all, 
rose  up,  and  followed  him.  And  Levi  made  him  a 
great  feast  in  his  own  house :  And  it  came  to  pass, 
that  as  Jesus  sat  at  meat,  behold,  a  great  company 
of  publicans  and  sinners  came,  and  sat  down  also 
with  him  and  his  disciples,  for  there  were  many, 
and  they  followed  him.     But  when  the  Scribes  and 


W8  HARMONY    OF    THE 

Pharisees  saw  him  eat  with  publicans  and  sinners, 
they  murmured  against  his  disciples,  saying,  Why 
eateth  your  Master,  and  why  do  ye  eat  and  drink 
with  publicans  and  sinners  ?  But  when  Jesus  heard 
that,  he  answering,  said  unto  them,  They  that  be 
whole  need  not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick. 
But  go  ye  and  learn  what  that  meaneth,  I  will  have 
mercy,  and  not  sacrifice  :  For  I  am  not  come  to  call 
the  righteous  but  sinners  to  repentance. 

And  the  disciples  of  John  and  of  the  Pharisees 
used  to  fast,  and  they  come  and  say  unto  him,  Why 
do  the  disciples  of  John  and  of  the  Pharisees  fast 
often,  and  make  prayers,  but  thy  disciples  fast  not, 
but  eat  and  drink.  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Can 
ye  make  the  children  of  the  bride-chamber  fast  and 
mourn,  as  long  as  the  Bridegroom  is  with  them  '?  as 
long  as  they  have  the  Bridegroom  with  them,  they 
cannot  fast.  But  the  days  will  come,  when  the 
Bridegroom  shall  be  taken  away  from  them,  and  then 
shall  they  fast  in  those  days. 

And  he  spake  also  a  parable  unto  them  :  No  man 
seweth  a  piece  of  new  cloth  on  an  old  garment ; 
else  the  new  piece  that  filled  it  up  taketh  away  from 
the  old  garment,  and  the  rent  is  made  worse,  and  the 
piece  that  was  taken  out  of  the  new,  agreeth  not 
with  the  old.  And  no  man  putteth  new  wine  into 
old  bottles  :  else  the  new  wine  will  burst  the  bottles, 
and  the  wine  is  spilled,  and  the  bottles  shall  perish. 
But  the  new  wine  must  be  put  into  new  bottles,  and 
both  are  preserved.  No  man  also  having  drunk  old 
wine,  straightway  desireth  new,  for  he  saith.  The  old 
is  better. 


Let  us  view  with  humble  wonder  and  pleasure  this  instance  of 
the  condescension  and  grace  of  the  Redeemer  in  the  call  of 
Matthew;  his  condescension  in  calling  to  so  near  an  attendance 
and  so  intimate  a  friendship,  a  man  who  was  a  publican,  infamous 
as  that  employment  was  ;  and  his  grace,  which  could  immediately 
inspire  him  with  so  firm  a  resolution  of  quitting  all  the  profits  of 
it,  that  he  might  reduce  himself  to  circumstances  of  life  as  preca- 
rious as  those  of  his  divine  Master.     Many,  no  doubt,  censured 


FOUR  GOSPELS^  89 

him  as  a  rash  enthusiast,  or  a  lunatic,  rather  than  a  sober  convert ; 
but  he  is  even  now  reaping  the  abundant  reward  ;  his  loss  is  gain, 
and  his  contempt  glory. 

There  is  no  reason  to  wonder  that  Matlhexo  should  gladly 
embrace  so  proper  an  opportunity  of  introducing  other  publicans 
and  sinyiers  into  the  presence  of  that  condescending  Saviour,  from 
whom,  though  he  once  was  numbered  among  them,  he  had  re- 
ceived grace  and  the  apostleship.  Let  us  with  pleasure  observe 
how  ready  our  blessed  Lord  was  to  receive  them.  vSurely  what- 
ever offence  the  proud  Pharisee  might  take  on  the  occasion,  Jesus 
will  appear  peculiarly  amiable  in  such  a  circle  as  this. 

From  the  example  of  Christ,  and  the  whole  genius  of  his  gospel, 
let  us  learn  to  make  all  proper  alloxoances  to  those  about  us,  that 
we  may  teach  them,  and  train  them  up  as  they  are  able  to  hear  it ; 
not  crushing  them  under  any  unnecessary  load,  nor  denying  them 
any  indulgence  which  true  friendship  will  permit  us  to  grant  them  ; 
lest  the  good  ways  of  God  should  be  misrepresented,  disgraced, 
abandoned,  through  our  imprudent,  though  well-meant  severity; 
a  caution  to  be  peculiarly  observed  in  our  conduct  towards  young 
persons  ;  and  not  to  be  forgotten  with  respect  to  those  who,  like 
the  disciples  here  in  question,  are  training  up  for  the  ministerial 
office. 


PART    III. 


MATTHEW.  VIII.  5—13, 18— 34— IX.  1,  10—38, 
X.— XIV.— MARK  II.  23— 28— III.— VI.— 
LUKE  VI.— IX.  1—17.— JOHN  V.  VI. 

IN  WHICH  IS  CONTAINED  THE  PERIOD  OF  TWELVE 
MONTHS,  FROM  THE  END  OF  THE  FIRST  YEAR's 
PREACHING  OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,  IN  THE  BE- 
GINNING OF  TWENTY-EIGHT,  TO  THE  END  OF  THE 
SECOND  YEAR,  IN  THE  BEGINNING  OF  TWENTY-NINE. 


HARMONY    OF    THE    FOUR  GOSPELS.  93 


SECTION  I. 

JOHN    V.   1 16. 

After  this  there  was  a  feast  of  the  Jews,  and  Jesus 
went  up  to  Jerusalem.  Now  there  is  at  Jerusalem 
by  the  sheep  market  a  pool,  which  is  called  in  the 
Hebrew  tongue  Bethesda,  having  five  porches.  In 
these  lay  a  great  multitude  of  impotent  folk,  of  blind, 
halt,  withered,  waiting  for  the  moving  of  the  water. 
For  an  angel  went  down  at  a  certain  season  into  the 
pool,  and  troubled  the  water  ;  whosoever  then  first 
after  the  troubling  of  the  water  stepped  in,  was  made 
whole  of  whatsoever  disease  he  had.  And  a  certain 
man  was  there,  which  had  an  infirmity  thirty  and 
eight  years. — When  Jesus  saw  him  lie,  and  knew 
that  he  had  been  now  a  long  time  in  that  case^  he 
saith  unto  him,  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole  ?  The 
impotent  man  answered  him.  Sir,  I  have  no  man, 
when  the  water  is  troubled,  to  put  me  into  the  pool  : 
but  while  I  am  coming,  another  steppeth  down  before 
me.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Rise,  take  up  thy  bed, 
and  walk.  And  immediately  the  man  was  made 
whole,  and  took  up  his  bed,  and  walked  :  and  on  the 
same  day  was  the  sabbath.  The  Jews  therefore  said 
unto  him  that  was  cured.  It  is  the  sabbath  day  ;  it  is 
not  lawful  for  thee  to  carry  thy  bed.  He  answered 
them,  He  that  made  me  whole,  the  same  said  unto 
me.  Take  up  thy  bed  and  walk. — Then  asked  they 
him.  What  man  is  that  which  said  unto  thee,  Take 
up  thy  bed  and  walk  ?  And  he  that  was  healed  wist  not 


94  HARMONY    OF    THE 

who  it  was  ;  for  Jesus  had  conveyed  himself  away,  a 
multitude  being  in  that  place.  Afterward  Jesus 
findeth  him  in  the  temple,  and  said  unto  him,  Behold, 
thou  art  made  whole,  sin  no  more,  lest  a  worse  thing 
come  unto  thee.  The  man  departed,  and  told  the 
Jews  that  it  was  Jesus,  which  had  made  him  whole. 
And  therefore  did  the  Jews  persecute  Jesus,  and  sought 
to  slay  him,  because  he  had  done  these  things  on  the 
sabbath  day. 

What  reason  have  we  humbly  to  adore  that  Almighty  Being 
who  kills  and  makes  alive,  v/ho  wou7ids  and  heals !  (Deut, 
xxxii.  39.)  If  the  Jews  had  cause  of  thankfulness  for  this 
miraculous  interposition,  surely  those  virtues  which  God  has 
in  a  natural  way  bestowed  on  medicines,  and  that  sagacity 
which  he  has  given  to  men  for  the  discovery  of  those  virtues,  are 
matter  of  much  greater  acknowledgment,  as  the  blessing  is  so 
much  more  extensive  and  lasting. 

But  how  mucli  greater  still  are  our  obligations  to  him  for 
tlie  blessings  of  his  gcspcl  and  the  ordinances  of  his  worship, 
those  icaters  of  life  by  which  our  spiritual  vialadies  are  healed, 
and  vigour  restored  to  our  enfeebled  souls  !  Let  us  humbly 
attend  them;  yet  during  that  attendance  let  us  look  beyond 
them  :  for  surely  the  eHicacy  of  this  pool  of  Bethesda  did  not 
more  depend  upon  the  descent  of  the  angel,  than  the  efficacy  of 
the  noblest  ordinances  depends  on  that  blessed  Spirit  which 
operates  in  and  by  them. 

jSIultitudes  were  continually  attending  at  this  pool;  and  ichy 
then  is  the  house  of  God  forsaken  ?  where  not  one  alone,  but  many, 
at  the  same  moment,  may  receive  spiritual  sight  and  strength  ; 
yea,  and  life  from  the  dead  !  Yet,  alas !  under  the  diseases 
of  the  sotd,  how  few  desire  to  be  made  lohole  !  Blessed  Jesus  ! 
if  thou  hast  awakened  that  desire  in  us,  we  would  adore  thee 
for  it  as  a  token  for  good  ;  and  would  lift  up  our  believing  eyes 
to  thee,  in  humble  expectation  that  thou  wilt  graciously 
fulfil  it.  ^ 

The  man  who  was  lately  languishing  on  his  couch  we  quickly 
after  find  in  the  temple;  and  lohere  should  they  be  found  who 
have  been  raised  up  from  beds  of  weakness,  and  brought  out  from 
chambers  of  confinement,  but  in  the  sanctuary,  rendering  their 
praises  to  the  God  of  their  mercies  ?  How  reasonable  is  the  caution 
which  our  Lord  gave  him  there  !  Sin  no  more,  lest  a  worse  thing 
come  unto  thee.  May  we  see  sin  as  the  root  of  all  our  afflictions; 
and,  by  the  bitterness  of  them,  may  sin  be  embittered  to  us,  and 
our  hearts  fortified  against  relapsing  into  it,  especially  when  we 
have  been  chastised,  and  restored  agaiyi  ! 


FOUR    GOSPELS  95 

One  would  have  expected  that,  when  this  grateful  creature 
published  the  name  of  his  Benefactor,  crowds  should  have  throng- 
ed about  Jesus,  to  have  heard  the  loords  of  his  mouth,  and  to  have 
received  the  blessings  of  his  gospel;  and  that  the  whole  nation 
should  have  gloried  in  the  presence  of  such  a  person,  as  far  more 
valuable  than  the  descent  of  a  heavenly  spirit  at  some  particular 
seasons  for  the  cure  of  their  diseases,  or  even  the  abode  of  an 
incarnate  angel  among  them  would  have  been.  But  instead  of 
this,  behold  the  malignity  of  our  fallen  nature,  and  the  force  of 
stubborn  prejudice  !  Tbey  surround  him  with  an  hostile  intent  j 
they  even  conspire  against  his  beneficial  life;  and  for  an  imagined 
transgression  in  a  point  of  ceremony,  would  have  put  out  this  light 
in  Israel.  Let  us  not  wonder  then  if  our  good  be  evil  spoken  of; 
(Rom.  xiv.  16.)  Let  us  not  wonder,  if  even  candour,  benevo- 
lence, and  usefulness,  do  not  wholly  disarm  the  enmity  of  some  ; 
especially  of  those  who  have  been  taught  to  prefer  sacrifice  to  mer- 
cy ;  and  who,  disrelishing  the  genuine  contents  of  the  gospel^ 
naturally  seek  occasion  to  slander  and  persecute  the  professors, 
and  especially  the  defenders  of  it. 


SECTION  II. 

John  v.   17—30. 

But  Jesus  answered  them,  My  Father  worketh 
hitherto,  and  I  work.  Therefore  the  Jews  sought  the 
more  to  kill  him,  because  he  had  not  only  broken  the 
sabbath,  but  said  also,  that  God  was  his  Father, 
making  himself  equal  with  God.  Then  answered 
Jesus  and  said  unto  them.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you,  The  Son  can  do  nothing  of  himself,  but  what  he 
seeth  the  Father  do  :  for  what  things  soever  he  doeth, 
these  also  doeth  the  Son  likewise.  For  the  Father 
loveth  the  Son,  and  sheweth  him  all  things  that  him- 
self doeth ;  and  he  will  shew  him  greater  works  than 
these,  that  ye  may  marvel.  For  as  the  Father  raiseth 
up  the  dead,  and  quickeneth  them,  even  so  the  Son 
quickeneth  whom  he  will.  For  the  Father  judgeth 
no  man,  but  hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  the 
Son :  That  all  men  should  honour  the  Son,  even  as 
they  honour  the  Father.     He  that  honoureth  not  the 


96  HARMONY  OF  THE 

Son,  honoureth  not  the  Father  which  hath  sent  him. 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  heareth  my 
word,  and  believeth  on  him  that  sent  me,  hath  ever- 
lasting life,  and  shall  not  come  into  condemnation; 
but  is  passed  from  death  unto  life.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is, 
when  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God :  and  they  that  hear  shall  live.  For  as  the 
Father  hath  life  in  himself;  so  hath  he  given  to  the 
Son  to  have  life  in  himself;  And  hath  given  him 
authority  to  execute  judgment  also,  because  he  is  the 
Son  of  man.  Marvel  not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is 
coming,  in  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth  ;  they  that  have  done 
good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life  ;  and  they  that  have 
done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation.  I  can 
of  mine  own  self  do  nothing  ;  as  I  hear,  I  judge  ; 
and  my  judgment  is  just ;  because  I  seek  not  mine 
own  will,  but  the  will  of  the  Father  which  hath  sent 
me. 

With  what  humble  prostration  of  soul  should  we  bow  before 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  while  we  read  such  words  as  these  !  Though 
he  appeared  under  the/orm  of  a  servant ;  and  as  man  and  mediator' 
confessed  a  holy  subjection  to  his  Father  and  his  God;  yet  is  he 
his  0W71,  his  only-begotten  Son,  the  Son  whom  he  loves,  whom  he 
honours,  whom  he  commands  all  men  to  honour  eve?!  as  himself,  and 
to  whom  such  power  and  authority  are  committed,  that  he  is  the 
principle  of  life  and  the  administrator  of  judgment.  Let  us  adore 
the  wisdom  of  such  a  contrivance,  that  he  who  humbled  himself 
thus  low  should  be  so  highly  exalted.  Let  us  labour  to  secure  an 
interest  in  him  ;  treating  him  with  that  submission,  duty,  and 
obedience,  which  becomes  at  once  the  divinity  of  his  nature  and 
the  dignity  of  his  office. 

May  we  be  enabled  by  Divine  grace  so  to  hear  the  voice  of  his 
gospel,  that  we  may  arise  to  a  life  of  holy  obedience;  that  we 
rnay  another  day  hear  him  with  joy  calling  forth  our  sleeping 
dust,  and  arise  to  the  resurrection  of  life;  while  those  that  have 
despised  and  rejected  him,  shall  find  themselves  the  helpless 
prisoners  of  his  justice,  and  with  reluctance  and  terror  come  forth 
to  the  resurrection  of  damnation ! 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  97 

SECTION  III. 

John  v.  31—47. 

If  I  bear  witness  of  myself,  my  witness  is  not  true. 
There  is  another  that  beareth  witness  of  me,  and  I 
know  that  the  witness  which  he  witnesseth  of  me  is 
true.  Ye  sent  unto  John,  and  he  bare  witness  unto 
the  truth.  But  I  receive  not  testimony  from  man ; 
but  these  things  I  say  that  ye  might  be  saved.  He 
was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light :  and  ye  were  will- 
ing for  a  season  to  rejoice  in  his  light.  But  I  have 
a  greater  witness  than  that  of  John ;  for  the  works 
which  the  Father  hath  given  me  to  finish,  the  same 
works  that  I  do,  bear  witness  of  me,  that  the  Father 
hath  sent  me.  And  the  Father  himself  which  hath 
sent  me,  hath  borne  witness  of  me.  Ye  have  neither 
heard  his  voice  at  any  time,  nor  seen  his  shape.  And 
ye  have  not  his  word  abiding  in  you :  for  whom  he 
hath  sent,  him  ye  believe  not.  Search  the  scriptures  ; 
for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life :  and  they 
are  they  which  testify  of  me.  And  ye  will  not 
come  to  me,  that  ye  might  have  life.  I  receive  not 
honour  from  men.  But  I  know  you,  that  ye  have  not 
the  love  of  God  in  you.  I  am  come  in  my  Father's 
name,  and  ye  receive  me  not :  if  another  shall  come 
in  his  name,  him  ye  will  receive.  How  can  ye  believe, 
which  receive  honour  one  of  another,  and  seek  not 
the  honour  that  cometh  from  God  only  ?  Do  not  think 
that  I  will  accuse  you  to  the  Father  ;  there  is  one  that 
accuseth  you,  even  Moses,  in  whom  ye  trust.  For 
had  ye  believed  Moses,  ye  would  have  believed  me : 
for  he  wrote  of  me.  But  if  ye  believe  not  his  writings, 
how  shall  ye  believe  my  words  ? 

How  various  is  the  evidence  of  our  Redeemer's  mission,  and 
with  what  pleasure  should  we  trace  it  in  the  testimony  which  John 
bore,  the  miracles  which  himself  wrought,  the  testimony  of  the 
Father  to  him,  and  ihe  predictions  which  the  prophets  uttered  and 

10 


98  HARMONY    OF    THE 

recorded !  To  confirm  our  faith  in  all,  let  us  be  daily  searching 
the  scriptures,  as  the  oracles  of  God  and  the  great  fountain  of  life 
and  salvation.  We  profess  a  regard  to  them  ;  may  that  regard 
never  be  our  condemnation !  or  the  blessed  penman  witness 
against  us,  diS  Moses  against  those  who  gloried  in  his  writings,  and 
yet  wanted  true  faith  in  them ! 

In  proportion  to  the  degree  in  which  we  are  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  ChrisVs  religion,  let  us  set  ourselves  to  cultivate  the  temper 
which  he  exercised.  He  sought  not  glory  from  men,  but  made  his 
Father''s  xoill  the  rule  of  his  actions,  and  his  Father^s  honour  the 
end  of  them.  Let  us  not  greedily  catch  at  human  applause,  but 
aim  at  an  infinitely  nobler  object,  even  the  honour  that  comelhfrom 
God  alone,  the  only  true  judge  of  actions  and  characters,  because 
the  only  discerner  of  hearts. 

May  we  have  not  only  his  word  in  our  hands,  but  his  love 
remaining  in  us ;  that  thereby  our  natural  aversion  to  the  methods 
of  his  saving  grace  in  the  gospel  may  be  subdued,  (hat  notwith- 
standing the  obstinacy  of  our  degenerate  wills  we  may  come  unto 
Christ  that  loemay  have  life  !  May  we  receive  him  with  the  greatest 
readiness,  as  coming  to  us  in  his  Father'' s  nam.e;  and  not  only/or  a 
season  rejoice  in  his  light,  but  steadfastly  continue  in  his  word,  as 
made  knoion  to  all  nations  for  the  obedience  of  faith  ;  that  the  advan- 
tages which  we  enjoy  may  not  be  found  to  aggravate  our  guilt 
and  to  condemn  us  with  the  unbelieving  Jcics  ! 

Christ  shewed  the  tenderness  of  his  compassion  even  in  the 
severity  of  his  rebukes,  and  spoke  these  awful  and  awakening 
words  that  these  his  unjust  and  inveterate  enemies  might  be  saved. 
May  they  be  the  power  of  God  unto  our  salvation  !  as  they  will  be, 
if  we  believe  in  him  V)hom  he  hath  sent. 


SECTION  IV. 

Matthew  xii.    1 — 8. — Mark    ii.  23 — 28. — Luke 

VI.  1—5. 

And  it  came  to  psss  on  the  second  sabbath  after  the 
first,  that  he  went  through  the  corn-fields:  and  his 
disciples  were  an  hungered,  and  began,  as  they  went, 
to  pluck  the  ears  of  corn,  and  to  eat,  rubbing  them  in 
their  hands.  But  when  the  Pharisees  saw  it,  certain 
of  them  ssiid  unto  them,  Why  do  ye  that  which  is  not 
lawful  to  do  on  the  sabbath-day  ?  They  said  unto 
him.  Behold,  thy  disciples  do  that  which  is  not  lawful 
to    do    on   the  sabbath-day.      And  Jesus  answering 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  99 

them  said  unto  them.  Have  ye  never  read  so  much 
as  this,  what  David  did,  when  he  had  need  and  was 
an  hungered,  he,  and  they  that  were  with  him  ;  How 
he  went  into  the  house  of  God  in  the  days  of  Ahime- 
lech  the  high-priest,  and  did  take  and  eat  the  shew- 
bread,  and  gave  also  to  them  that  were  with  him  ; 
which  was  not  lawful  for  him  to  eat,  neither  for  them 
which  were  with  him,  but  only  for  the  priests?  Or 
have  ye  not  read  in  the  law,  how  that  on  the  sabbath- 
days  the  priests  in  the  temple  profane  the  sabbath,  and 
are  blameless  ?  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  this  place 
is  one  greater  than  the  temple.  But  if  ye  had  known 
what  this  meaneth,  I.  will  have  mercy,  and  not  sacri- 
fice, ye  would  not  have  condemned  the  guiltless.  And 
he  said  unto  them.  The  sabbath  was  made  for  man, 
and  not  man  for  the  sabbath.  Therefore  the  Son  of 
man  is  Lord  also  of  the  sabbath. 


With  pleasure  we  observe  the  zeal  which  these  attendants  of 
Christ  express,  who  chose  on  a  sacred  festival  to  expose  them- 
selves to  hunger  as  well  as  toil,  rather  than  they  would  lose  the 
benefit  of  his  instructions,  which,  like  the  heavenly  manna  on  the 
day  preceding  the  sabbath,  were  then  poured  out  in  a  double  plenty. 
But  what  numerous  auditory  is  so  candid  as  to  contain  none  who 
come,  like  these  Pharisees,  with  a  desire  to  cavil  rather  than  to 
learn  !  The  malignity  of  their  temper  sofficiently  appeared  in 
taking  exception  at  so  small  a  circumstance  ;  hypocrites  that  could 
thus  strain  at  a  gnat  and  yet  sivallow  a  camel,  (Mat.  xxiii.  24,) 
scruphng  to  rub  out  a  few  grains  of  corn,  while  they  sought  to 
devour  xcidows'  houses,  and  were,  under  this  grave  mask  of  the 
strictest  piety,  inivardly  fidl  of  rapine  and  wickedness.  (Luke  xx. 
47,  andxi.  39.) 

Let  us  attend  to  the  apology  Christ  makes  for  his  disciples.  It 
speaks  his  own  authority,  as  greater  than  the  temple,  and  Lord  of 
the  sabbath ;  and  well  might  he,  in  tohom  dwelt  all  ihefidness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily,  without  the  least  presumption,  use  such  language 
as  this.  It  likewise  declares  much  of  the  genius  of  his  religion, 
which  deals  not  in  forms  and  ceremonies,  and  dispenses  even  with 
rituals  of  a  Divine  appointment,  when  humanity  and  benevolence 
interfere  with  the  observance  of  them.  Since  God  xcill  have  mercy 
rather  than  sacrifice,  let  us  abhor  the  perverseness  and  wickedness 
©f  those  who  sacrifice  mercy  itself,  not  merely  to  ceremonies  of  a 
Divine  onginal,  but  to  their  own  arbitrary  invention,  superstitious 
dreams,  and  precarious,  though  confident  determinations.  Let 
us  practice  habitual  caution  and  candour,  lest,  before  we  are  aware, 


100  HARMONY    OF    THE 

we  condemn  the  innocent  and  the  pious,  and  become  guilty  of 
what  is  much  more  displeasing  in  the  sight  of  God  than  the  faults 
which  a  peevish  and  censorious  temper  may  fancy  it  discovers  in 
our  brethren. 


SECTION  V. 

Matthew  xii.  9 — 14. — Mark  hi.  1 — 6. — 
Luke  vi.  6 — 11. 

And  it  came  to  pass  also  on  another  sabbath,  when 
he  was  departed  thence,  that  he  entered  into  the 
synagogue  and  taught :  and  behold,  there  was  a  man 
whose  right  hand  was  withered.  And  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  watched  him,  whether  he  would  heal 
on  the  sabbath-day  :  and  they  asked  him,  saying.  Is 
it  lawful  to  heal  on  the  sabbath-days  ?  that  they  might 
find  an  accusation  against  him.  But  he  knew  their 
thoughts,  and  said  to  the  man  which  had  the  withered 
hand,  Rise  up,  and  stand  forth  in  the  midst.  And  he 
arose  and  stood  forth.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  I 
will  ask  you  one  thing  ;  Is  it  lawful  on  the  sabbath- 
days  to  good,  or  to  do  evil  ?  to  save  life,  or  to  destroy 
it  ?  But  they  held  their  peace.  And  he  said  unto 
them.  What  man  shall  there  be  among  you,  that  shall 
have  one  sheep,  and  if  it  fall  into  a  pit  on  the  sabbath- 
day,  will  he  not  lay  hold  on  it,  and  lift  it  out  ?  How 
much  then  is  a  man  better  than  a  sheep  ?  wherefore  it 
is  lawful  to  do  well  on  the  sabbath-days. — And  when 
he  had  looked  round  about  upon  them  all  with  anger, 
being  grieved  for  the  hardness  of  their  hearts,  he  saith 
unto  the  man,  Stretch  forth  thine  hand.  And  he 
stretched  it  forth  ;  and  his  hand  was  restored  whole, 
like  as  the  other. 

Then  the  Pharisees  went  out,  and  were  filled  with 
madness  ;  and  communed  one  with  another  what  they 
might  do  to  Jesus  :    And  straightway  took  counsel 


FOrR  GOSPELS.  101 

with  the  Herodians  against  him,   how  they   might 
destroy  him. 

What  actions  are  so  fair  and  lovely,  that  malice  cannot  turn 
them  into  reproach?  What  characters  are  so  unblemished,  what 
so  exemplary,  that  imcharitableness  cannot  revile  and  condemn 
them  ?  While  the  eyes  of  distressed  vudtitudes  were  turned  to 
Christ  as  their  only  Physician  and  most  valuable  Friend,  the  eyes 
of  the  Pharisees  are  continually  upwi  him  for  evil;  and  they  behold  his 
wondrous  miracles,  not  for  their  own  conviction,  but  that  they  may, 
if  possible,  turn  them  into  the  means  of  liis  destniction.  So  ineffect- 
ual are  the  most  obvious  and  demonstrative  argwne^its,  till  divine 
grace  conquer  men's  natural  aversion  to  a  Redeemer's  kingdom, 
and  captivate  their  hearts  to  the  obedience  of  faith. 

To  have  reviled  and  dishonoured  Christ  and  to  have  endeavoured 
to  prevent  the  success  of  his  ministry,  had  been  a  daring  crime  : 
but  these  desperate  wretches  conspire  against  his  life ;  and  different 
as  their  principles  and  interests  were,  form  a  transient  friendship 
to  be  cemented  by  his  blood.  Blessed  Jesus,  well  mightest  thou 
say,  JMany  good  works  have  I  shewn  you,  and  for  which  of  them 
would  ijou  murder  me  ?     (John  x.  32.) 

What  reasoning  could  be  more  plain  and  forcible  than  this 
which  our  Lord  used  ?  and  yet,  like  deaf  adders,  they  stop  their 
ears,  and  harden  their  hearts  against  it.  Inhuman  creatures,  that 
were  more  concerned  fur  the  safety  of  a  sheep  than  the  happiness 
of  a  ma7i.  Yet,  would  to  God  that  unworthy  temper  had  died 
with  them ;  for  surely  there  are  those,  even  among  professing 
Christians,  who  regard  their  cattle  more  than  even  the  sotds  com- 
mitted by  Providence  to  their  care,  and  therefore,  no  doubt,  more 
than  their  oion  too  ! 

The  indignation  which  Christ  felt  on  this  occasion  was  a  just 
and  amiable  passion.  Happy  they,  whose  anger,  like  his,  only 
awakened  by  sin,  and  burns  only  to  destroy  that  accursed  thing  ! 

The  malice  of  the  Pharisees  did  not  restrain  the  benevolence  of 
our  compassionate  Saviour,  nor  deprive  the  poor  patient  of  his 
cure.  Such  let  our  conduct  be  !  Let  us  7iot  be  overcome  of  evil ; 
let  not  the  most  unjust  censures,  or  the  most  malicious  opposition 
break  our  spirits  so  as  to  prevent  us  from  doing  our  duty.  If 
others  are  mad  with  persecuting  rage,  let  us  pity  them;  and  let 
all  their  fury  against  the  cause  of  God  be  improved  as  a  motive  to 
excite  our  most  zealous  and  courageous  endeavours  for  its  service. 


10^ 


102  HARMONY    OF  THE 

SECTION  VI. 
Matt.  xii.  15 — 21. — Mark  hi.  7 — 12. 

But  when  Jesus  knew  it,  he  withdrew  himself  from 
thence  with  his  disciples  to  the  sea :  and  great  mul- 
titudes followed  him  from  galilee,  and  from  Judea, 
and  from  Jerusalem,  and  from  Idumea,  and  from 
beyond  Jordan,  and  he  healed  them ;  and  they  about 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  a  great  multitude,  when  they  had 
heard  what  great  things  he  did,  came  unto  him.  And 
he  spake  to  his  disciples,  that  a  small  ship  should  Avait 
on  him,  because  of  the  multitude,  lest  they  shoul-d 
throng  him.  For  he  had  healed  many,  insomuch 
that  they  pressed  upon  him  for  to  touch  him,  as  many 
as  had  plagues.  For  there  went  virtue  out  of  him, 
and  healed  them  all.  And  they  that  were  vexed  with 
uncleaned  spirits  were  healed.  And  the  unclean 
spirits,  when  they  saw  him,  fell  down  before  him,  and 
cried,  saying.  Thou  art  the  Son  of  God. — And  he 
straitly  charged  them  that  they  should  not  make  him 
known  :  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying.  Behold  my  servant 
whom  I  have  chosen  ;  my  beloved,  in  whom  my  soul 
is  well  pleased  :  I  will  put  my  spirit  upon  him,  and 
he  shall  shew  judgment  to  the  Gentiles.  He  shall  not 
strive,  nor  cry  ;  neither  shall  any  man  hear  his  voice 
in  the  streets.  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and 
smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench,  till  he  send  forth 
judgment  unto  victory.  And  in  his  name  shall  the 
Gentiles  trust. 

Surely /ace  does  not  more  exactly  answer  to  face  in  water  than 
the  character  of  Christ  drawn  by  the  prophet  to  his  temper  and 
conduct  as  described  by  the  Evangelists.  How  should  Zion  rejoice, 
and  the  daughter  of  Jerusalem  shout,  that  such  a  King  comeih  unto 
her,  meek  and  having  salvation.  (Zech.  ix.  9.)  Let  us  with  plea- 
sure trace  his  gentle  administralion,  and  with  a  cheerful  confidence 
commit  our  souls  to  so  kind  and  so  faithful  a  hand  :  far  from 
from  breaking,  he  will  strengthen  the  bruised  reed ;  far  from 
quenching  the  smoking  flax,  he  will  rather  blow  it  up  into  a  flame. 


rOUR    GOSPELS.  103 

How  well  does  it  become  the  disciples  of  Christ,  and  especially 
how  well  does  it  become  his  ministers,  to  imitate  what  was  so 
amiable  in  tlieir  Lord,  and  not  to  despise  the  day  of  small  things. 
Let  us  not  strive  nor  cry  ;  but,  laying  aside  all  unnecessary  con- 
tentions and  angry  debates,  let  us  receive  one  another  as  Christ 
hath  received  us,  (Rom.  xv.  7.)  and,  avoiding  all  vain  ostentation, 
let  us  silently  and  meekly  attend,  each  of  us,  to  the  discharge  of 
his  proper  office.  So  may  wc  hope  that  the  cause  of  religion  will 
go  on  successfully  around  us,  and  that  righteousness  will  in  due 
lime  be  brought  forth  to  complete  victory  over  all  opposition,  and 
by  its  own  geimin;.'  inlluences,  bo  happily  established  in  the  earth. 

The  Gentiles  trust  in  a  Redeemer's  name,  and  the  British  Isles  arc 
numbered  among  those  that  ivaitfor  his  law.  May  our  souls  with 
humble  submission  bow  themselves  to  receive  it,  and  observe  it 
with  such  faithful  care  and  obedient  regards,  that  our  example, 
wherever  it  is  seen,  may  promote  the  reception  of  it  among  those 
that  as  yet  are  strangers  to  it  I 


SECTION  VII. 

Matt.    x.    2 — 4. — Mark    hi.    13 — 19. — Luke    vi. 

1-2—19. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  he  went  out 
into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and  continued  all  night  in 
prayer  to  God.  And  when  it  was  day,  he  called 
unto  him  his  disciples,  whom  he  would,  and  they 
came  unto  him :  and  of  them  he  chose  and  ordained 
twelve,  whom  also  he  named  apostles:  And  ordained 
that  they  should  be  with  him,  and  that  he  might 
send  them  forth  to  preach  :  And  to  have  power  to 
heal  sicknesses,  and  to  cast  out  devils.  Now  the 
names  of  the  twelve  apostles  are  these  :  the  first, 
Simon,  (whom  he  also  surnamed  Peter,)  and  Andrew 
his  brother,  and  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and 
John  the  brother  of  James,  (and  he  surnamed  them 
Boanerges,  which  is,  The  sons  of  thunder,)  and 
Philip  and  Bartholomew,  Matthew  the  publican,  and 
Thomas,  James  the  son  of  Alpheus,  and  Simon  the 
Canaanite,  called  Zelotes,  and  Judas  Thaddeus,  the 
brother  of  James,  and  Judas  Iscariot,  which  also 
betrayed  him.     And  they  went  into  an  house. 


104  HARMONY  OF  THE 


Luke  iv.  17 — 49. 

And  he  came  down  with  them,  and  stood  in  the 
plain,  and  a  company  of  his  disciples,  and  a  great 
multitude  of  people  out  of  all  Judsea  and  Jerusalem, 
and  from  the  sea  coast  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  which 
came  to  hear  him,  and  to  be  healed  of  their  diseases  ; 
and  they  that  were  vexed  with  unclean  spirits :  and 
they  were  healed.  And  the  whole  multitude  sought 
to  touch  him  :  for  there  went  virtue  out  of  him,  and 
healed  thein  all. 


When  we  consider  how  much  the  church  in  all  ages  has  been 
indebted  to  the  labours  of  the  apostles,  and  how  much  we  our- 
selves owe  them,  we  shall  see  great  reason  of  thankfulness  to  our 
wise  and  gracious  Master,  who  was  pleased  to  assign  this  work 
to  his  servants,  and  so  eminently  to  qualify  them  for  it.  It  is 
observable,  that  before  he  sent  them  forth  he  chose  them  to  be  with 
him  in  a  more  constant  attendance  on  his  person  and  ministry. 
May  all  who  succeed  them  as  preachers  of  the  gospel,  be  such  as 
have  intimately  known  Christ  themselves,  and  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  spiritual  converse  with  him;  that  they  may  with  the 
greater  ability,  zeal,  and  efficacy,  recommend  him  to  others ! 

We  may  assure  ourselves  that  these  his  future  ministers  had 
no  inconsiderable  share  in  those  petitions  in  which,  with  un- 
abating  fervour  and  intenseness  of  devotion,  our  Redeemer  spent 
this  memorable  night.  And  if  we  have  any  regard  for  the  support 
of  religion  in  the  rising*  age,  let  us  likewise  be  earnestly  praying 
both  for  them  that  are  already  in  the  ministry,  and  for  such  as  are 
preparing  for  it.  This  surely  ought  to  be  the  frequent  care,  not 
only  of  those  who  have  the  tremendous  charge  of  educating  such  as 
are  ere  long  to  be  intrusted  with  the  honour  of  the  gospel  and  the 
care  of  souls,  but  those  who  are  now  struggling  with  the  glorious 
labours  and  trials  of  that  important  office,  and  even  of  all  those 
private  christians,  who  cordially  love  the  interest  of  their  Master, 
and  wish  the  salvation  of  their  fellow-creatures. 

Let  us  unite  our  cries  to  him  who  has  engaged  to  be  always 
with  his  church  even  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  say,  "Light  up, 
O  Lord,  a  brighter  and  a  stronger  flame  in  the  lamps  of  thy 
sanctuary !  Polish  these  arrows  of  thy  quiver,  that  they  may 
pierce  deep  into  the  consciences  of  men!  Let  thy  priests  be 
clothed  with  salvation,  that  thy  saiiits  may  shout  aloud  far  joy.  And 
pour  forth  upon  them  so  plenteous  an  unction  of  thine  Holy  Spint, 
that  the  odours  of  thy  grace  may  by  their  means  be  diffused 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  105 

around  throughout  all  thy  tabernacles  ;  like  that  of  the  fragrant 
oil,  which  was  poured  on  the  head  of  Aaron,  in  such  rich  abun- 
dance, that  it  not  only  ran  down  on  his  beard,  but  even  reached  to 
the  shii'ts  of  his  garments.     Aincn,  and  amen. 


SECTION  VIII. 

Luke  vi.  20—36. 

And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  on  his  disciples,  and  said 
Blessed  be  ye  poor  ;  for  yours  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Blessed  are  ye  that  hunger  now  :  for  ye  shall  be 
filled.  Blessed  are  ye  that  weep  now  :  for  ye  shall 
laugh.  Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  hate  you, 
and  when  they  shall  separate  yon  from  their  company^ 
and  shall  reprove  you,  and  cast  out  your  name  as 
evil,  for  the  Son  of  man's  sake.  Rejoice  ye  in  that 
day,  and  leap  for  joy  :  for,  behold,  your  reward  is 
great  in  heaven  :  for  in  the  like  manner  did  their 
fathers  unto  the  prophets.  But  woe  unto  you  that 
are  rich  !  for  ye  have  received  your  consolation. 
Woe  unto  you  that  are  full !  for  ye  shall  hunger. 
Woe  unto  j'-ou  that  laugh  now  !  for  ye  shall  mourn 
and  weep.  Woe  unto  you,  when  all  men  shall  speak 
well  of  you  !  for  so  did  their  fathers  to  the  false 
prophets. 

But  I  say  unto  you  which  hear,  Love  your  enemies, 
do  good  to  them  which  hate  j^ou.  Bless  them  that 
curse  you,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefuUy  use 
you.  And  unto  him  that  smiteth  thee  on  the  one 
cheek  offer  also  the  other  ;  and  him  that  taketh  away 
thy  cloak  forbid  not  to  take  thy  coat  also.  Give  to 
every  man  that  asketh  of  thee  ;  and  of  him  that 
taketh  away  thy  goods,  ask  them  not  again.  And 
as  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  also 
to  them  likewise.  For  if  ye  love  them  which  love 
you,  what  thank  have  ye  ?  for  sinners  also  love  those 
that  love  them.  And  if  ye  do  good  to  them  which 
do  good  to  you,  what  thank  have  ye  ?  for  sinners 
also  do   even  the  same.     And   if   ye   lend   to    them 


106  HARMONY    OF    THE 

of  whom  ye  hope  to  receive,  what  thank  have  ye  ? 
for  sinners  also  lend  to  sinners,  to  receive  as  much 
again.  But  love  ye  your  enemies,  and  do  good,  and 
lend,  hoping  for  nothing  again  :  and  your  reward 
shall  be  great,  and  ye  shall  be  the  children  of  the 
Highest :  for  he  is  kind  unto  the  unthankful  and  to 
the  evil.  Be  ye  therefore  merciful,  as  your  Father 
also  is  merciful. 

How  necessary  is  it,  that  our  forgetful  hearts  should  have  line 
upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept  ?  If  Christ  did  not  think  it 
improper  to  repeat  his  discourse,  surely  it  will  not  be  needless  for 
us  to  renew  our  attention  to  it.  Oh  that  every  word  of  it  were 
engraven  on  our  hearts  as  with  the  point  of  a  diamond,  that  we  might 
learn,  in  spite  of  all  the  foolish  wisdom  of  this  world,  to  form 
ourselves  on  these  maxims,  as  the  surest  guide  to  present  and  to 
eternal  felicity  ! 

Our  Lord  again  pronounces  the  poor  and  the  hungry,  the 
mournful,  and  the  persecuted,  happy;  and  represents  those  as 
miserable  who  are  rich  and  full,  joyous  and  applauded;  not  that 
this  is  universally  the  case  ;  but  because  prosperous  circum- 
stances are  so  frequently  a  sweet  poison,  and  affliction  a  healing 
though  bitter  medicine.  Let  the  thought  reconcile  us  to  adversity, 
and  awaken  our  caution  when  the  loorld  smiles  upon  us  ;  when  a 
plentiful  table  is  spread  before  us,  and  our  cup  runneth  over ;  M-hen 
our  spirits  are  gay  and  sprightly  ;  or  when  we  hear,  what  to 
corrupted  nature  is  too  harmonious  music,  that  of  our  oion  praise 
from  men.  Oh  that  we  may  secure,  what  is  of  infinitely  greater 
importance,  the  praise  of  our  heavenly  Master,  by  a  constant 
obediential  regard  to  these  his  precepts  ! 

May  we  be  happy  proficients  in  the  art  of  bearing  diXid  forgiving 
injuries.  May  we  be  ready  to  every  good  loord  and  work,  maintain- 
ing an  eye  quick  to  observe,  a  heart  tender  to  feel,  a  hand  open  to 
relieve  the  calamities  and  necessities  of  friends,  of  strangers  and  of 
enemies,  giving  to  some,  and  where,  perhaps,  there  may  be  little 
prospect  of  a  return  ;  lending  to  others,  which,  if  it  engage  them 
to  greater  industry,  is  as  real  a  benefit  as  if  the  loan  were  a  gift. 

On  the  whole,  let  us  not  presume  to  call  God  our  Father,  if  we 
do  not  labour  to  resemble  him ;  nor  dare  to  challenge  the  peculiar 
honour  and  privileges  of  Chrisfs  disciples,  if  we  do  not  distinguish 
ourselves  from  others  by  the  chanty  of  our  tempers  and  the  usefid- 
ness  of  our  lives,  as  well  as  by  the  articles  oi  our  faith  and  the  forms 
of  our  worship. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  107 

SECTION  IX. 

Luke  vi.  37—49. 

Judge  not  and  ye  shall  not  be  judged  ;  condemn  not, 
and  ye  shall  not  be  condemned  ;  forgive  and  ye  shall 
be  forgiven  :  give  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you  ; 
good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  shaken  together, 
and  running  over,  shall  men  give  into  your  bosom  : 
for  with  the  same  measure  that  ye  mete  withal  it  shall 
be  measured  to  you  again. 

And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them,  Can  the  blind 
lead  the  blind  ?  shall  they  not  both  fall  into  the  dilch  ? 
The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master  :  but  every  one 
that  is  perfect  shall  be  as  his  master. 

And  why  beholdest  thou  the  mote  that  is  in  thy 
brother's  eye,  but  perceivest  not  the  beam  that  is  in 
thine  own  eye  ?  Either  how  canst  thou  say  to  thy 
brother.  Brother,  let  me  pull  out  the  mote  that  is  in 
thine  eye,  when  thou  thyself  beholdest  not  the  beam 
that  is  in  thine  own  eye  ?  Thou  hypocrite,  cast  out 
first  the  beam  out  of  thine  own  eye,  and  then  shalt 
thou  see  clearly  to  pull  out  the  mote  that  is  in  thy 
brother's  eye.  For  a  good  tree  bringeth  not  forth 
corrupt  fruit ;  neither  doth  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth 
good  fruit :  for  every  tree  is  known  by  his  own  fruit : 
for  of  thorns  men  do  not  gather  figs,  nor  of  a  bramble 
bush  gather  they  grapes.  A  good  man  out  of  the 
good  treasure  of  his  heart,  bringeth  forth  that  which  is 
good  ;  and  an  evil  man  out  of  the  evil  treasure  of  his 
heart,  bringeth  forth  that  which  is  evil :  for  of  the 
abundance  of  his  heart  the  mouth  speaketh. 

And  why  call  ye  me,  Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the 
things  which  I  say  ?  Whosoever  cometh  to  me,  and 
heareth  iny  sayings,  I  will  shew  you  to  whom  he  is 
like  :  he  is  like  to  a  man  which  built  an  house,  and 
digged  deep,  and  laid  the  foundation  on  a  rock  :  and 
w^hen  the  floods  arose,  the  stream  beat  vehemently 
upon  that  house,  and  could  not  shake  it,   for  it  was 


I@8  HARMONY  or  THE 

founded  on  a  rock.  But  he  that  heareth,  and  doeth 
not,  is  like  a  man  that  without  a  foundation  buih  an 
house  upon  the  earth  ;  against  which  the  stream  did 
beat  vehemently,  and  immediately  it  fell ;  and  the  ruin 
of  that  house  was  great. 

Let  a  frequent  reflection  on  our  own  faults  teach  us  candour  ; 
and  let  a  sense  of  our  continued  dependence  on  Divine  liberality 
make  us  liberal  towards  those  that  need  our  assistance ;  lest  we 
lose  the  comfort  so  justly  forfeited,  and  abused  mercies  be  another 
day  repaid  with  measures  of  wrath,  pressed  down,  shaken  together, 
and  running  over. 

We  are  another  day  to  give  an  account  of  ourselves  befora 
God  :  let  us  judge  then  for  ourselves  in  matters  of  religion  ;  and 
be  very  careful  that  we  do  not  stupidly  follow  blind  guides,  till  we 
fall  with  them  into  destruction.  "  Lead  us,  O  Lord,  in  the  way 
everlasting  !  Form  us  to  a  more  perfect  resemblance  of  our  great 
Master  !  Make  us  severe  to  ourselves,  and,  so  far  as  it  is  real  charity, 
indulgent  to  others  !  Sanctify  our  hearts  by  thy  grace,  that  they 
may  be  as  trees  bringing  forth  good  fruit,  or  as  fountains  pouring  out 
wholesome  streams !  There  may  a  good  treasure  be  laid  up,  from 
whence  good  things  may  be  abundantly  produced  !  There  may 
those  holy  and  benevolent  affections  continually  spring  up,  which 
may  flow  forth  with  unaffected  freedom,  to  refresh  the  souls  and 
animate  the  graces  of  all  that  are  around  us !" 

May  these  beautiful,  striking,  repeated  admonitions,  which  our 
Saviour  gives  us  of  the  vanity  of  every  profession  which  does 
not  influence  the  practice,  be  attended  to  with  reverence 
and  fear!  We  are  building  for  eternity;  may  we  never 
grudge  the  time  and  labour  of  a  most  serious  inquiry  into  the 
great  fundamental  principles  of  religion?  May  we  discover  tAc 
sure  foundation,  and  raise  upon  it  a  noble  superstructure,  which 
shall  stand  fair  and  glorious,  when  hypocrites  are  swept  away  into 
everlasting  ruin,  in  that  awful  day  in  which  heaven  and  earth  shall 
flee  away  from  the  face  of  him  that  sits  upon  the  throne  !  (Rev.  xx.  11.) 


SECTION  X. 

Matt.  viii.  5 — 13. — Luke  vii.  1 — 10. 

Now  when  Jesus  had  ended  all  his  sayings  in  the 
audience  of  the  people,  he  entered  into  Capernaum ; 
and  when  he  was  entered  into  Capernaum,  there 
came  unto  him  a  certain  centurion,  beseeching  him 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  109 

for  his  servant,  who  was  dear  to  him,  and  who  was  sick 
of  the  palsy,  and  ready  to  die,  being  grievously  torment- 
ed. And  when  he  heard  of  Jesus,  he  sent  unto  him 
the  elders  of  the  Jews,  beseeching  him  that  he  would 
come  and  heal  his  servant.  And  when  they  came  to 
Jesus,  they  besought  him  instantly,  saying,  That  lie  was 
worthy  for  whom  he  should  do  this.  For  he  loveth  our 
nation,  and  he  hath  built  us  a  synagogue.  Jesus  saith, 
I  will  come  and  heal  him.  Then  Jesus  went  with  them. 
And  when  he  was  now  not  far  from  the  house,  the  cen- 
turion sent  friends  to  him,  saying  unto  him,  Lord,  trou- 
ble not  thyself,  for  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldest 
enter  under  my  roof — Wherefore  neither  thought  1  my- 
self worthy  to  come  unto  thee  :  but  speak  the  word 
only,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed.  For  I  also  am  a 
man  set  under  authority,  having  soldidrs  under  me  : 
And  I  say  unto  one,  Go,  and  he  goelh  :  and  to  another, 
Come,  and  he  cometh  ;  and  to  my  servant,  Do  this,  and 
he  doeth  it.  When  Jesus  heard  these  things,  he  mar- 
velled at  him,  and  turned  him  about,  and  said  unto  the 
people  that  followed  him.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  have 
not  found  so  great  faith,  no,  not  in  Israel. — And  I  say 
unto  you,  That  many  shall  come  from  the  East  and  West, 
and  shall  sit  down  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob, 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  But  the  children  of  the  king- 
dom shall  be  cast  out  into  utter  darkness  :  there  shall 
be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  the  centurion.  Go  thy  way,  and  as  thou  hast  be- 
lieved, so  be  it  done  unto  thee.  And  his  servant  was 
healed  in  the  selfsame  hour.  And  they  that  were  sent, 
returning  to  the  house,  found  the  servant  whole  that  had 
been  sick. 


It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  this  good  centuriortt  who  amidst  all 
the  temptations  of  a  military  life,  retained  the  principles,  not  only 
olliberality  and  humanity,  but  of  piety  too;  and,  probably  amidst 
the  raillery  of  his  irreligious  and  idolatrous  brethrea,  had  the  cou- 
rage to  frequent,  and  even  to  build  a  synagogue.  Surely  his  dt- 
voHon  did  not  eneivate,  but  rather  invigorate  and  establish  hi« 

n 


110  HARMONY    OF   THE 

valour  ;  nor  did  he  find  himself  less  dutifully  regarded  by  the  soU 
diers  under  his  command  for  his  parental  tenderness  to  his  afilicted 
servant,  which  brought  him  thus  h\xmh\y  io  petition  Christ  in  his 
favour.  Such  may  our  officers  be!  and  we  may  hope  the  hosts 
of  heaven  will  with  pleasure  cover  their  heads  in  the  day  of  battle, 
and  obedient  t)Oops  be  formed,  by  their  example  and  their  care,  to 
the  discipline  o(  virtue  as  well  as  of  t^ar. 

We  see  the  fotce  of  real  goodness  to  conquer  the  most  invete- 
rate prejudices.'  the  elders  of  the  Jews  at  Capeinaum  turn  peti- 
tioners tor  a  Gentile — lor  a  Roman  centurion !  so  may  we  disarm 
the  virulency  of  a  party  spirit,  and  conciliate  the  friendship  of 
those  who  otherwise  might  have  their  eyes  upon  us  for  evil! 

In  plentiful  circumstances  and  an  honourable  station,  how  great 
is  the  humility  of  this  worthy  inan  !  How  low  are  the  thoughts 
that  he  has  of  himself !  And  with  what  veneration  and  respect 
does  he  address  himself  to  Christ  I  And,  had  this  centurionhebn 
even  a  tribune  or  a  general,  this  humble  addiess  would  well  have 
become  him  when  he  was  thus  applying  unto  Christ.  And  how 
well  does  it  become  us,  when  entreating  the  blessed  Jesus  to  ex- 
ert his  healing  power  on  our  hearts,  to  bow  with  deep  humility 
before  him,  and  to  say,  "  Lord,  lam  not  worthy  that  thou  should- 
est  come  under  my  :roof,  or  worthy  the  honoi  •  of  appearing  in 
thy  presence  !"  He  that  thus  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted, 
(Luke  xviii.  14.)  nor  do  we  ever  stand  fairer  for  the  praise  of 
Christ  than  when  we  see  ourselves  undeserving  even  of  his 
notice. 

Behold  an  instance  oi  faith  in  a  stranger  to  the  cotnmonwealth 
of  Israel,  by  which  their  unbelief  was  condemned  !  Oh  that  the 
virtues  of  heathens  may  not  another  day  rise  up  to  oiir  condemna- 
tion, notwithstanding  an  higher  profession  and  much  nobler  ad- 
vantages!  We  cannot  but  rejoice  to  h(  rir  that  many  shall  come 
from  the  east  and  the  west,  to  sit  down  with  the  pious  patriarchs 
in  the  kindom  of  heaven !  but  how  deplorable  is  the  case  of  those 
children  of  the  kingdom,  who,  with  all  their  towering  expecta- 
tions, shall  be  cast  out,  and  doomed  to  hopeless  sorrow  and  to 
everlasting  darkness! 

May  Almighty  Grace  awaken  those  who  are  now  ignorant  of 
the  value  and  importance  of  the  blessings  of  the  gospel ;  and  ex- 
cite those  holy  desires  after  them,  which  may  prevent  that  impa- 
tience and  envy,  that  rage  and  despair,  with  whicL  they  must 
otherwise  view  them  at  an  unapproachable  distance  ;  yea,  view 
them  possessed  by  multitudes,  whom  they  are  now  ready  to  de- 
spise ! 


FOTB    OOSFELS.  Ill 

SECTION  XI. 

Luke  vii.  11 — 18. 

And  it  came  to  pass  the  day  after,  that  he  went  into  a 
city  called  Nain  ;  and  many  of  his  disciples  went  with 
him,  and  much  people.  Now  when  he  came  nigh  to  the 
gate  of  the  city,  behold,  there  was  a  dead  man  carried 
out,  the  only  son  of  his  mother  :  and  she  was  a  widow  : 
and  much  people  of  the  city  was  with  her.  And  when 
the  Lord  saw  her,  he  had  conjpassion  on  her,  and  said 
unto  her,  Weep  not.  And  he  came  and  touched  the  bier  : 
and  they  that  bare  him  stood  still.  And  he  said.  Young 
man,  I  say  unto  thee.  Arise.  And  he  that  was  dead 
sat  up,  and  began  to  speak  :  and  he  delivered  him  to  his 
mother.  And  there  came  a  fear  on  all  :  and  they  glo- 
rified God,  saying.  That  a  great  prophet  is  risen  up 
among  us  ;  and,  That  God  had  visited  his  people.  And 
this  rumour  of  him  went  forth  throughout  all  Judea,  and 
throughout  all  the  region  round  about.  And  the  disci- 
ples of  John  shewed  him  all  these  things. 


It  surely  becomes  us  likewise  to  glorify  God  on  account  of  this 
great  Prophet,  whom  he  has  raised  up,  not  only  to  his  ancient 
people  Israel,  but  to  be  for  salvalion  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
(Acts  xiii.  47. )  Welcome,  thou  Messenger  of  the  Father's  love  1 
How  illustrious  thy  miiacles!  how  important  thy  doctrine  !  how 
beneficent  and  amiable  the  whole  of  thy  behaviour. 

He  went  from  Capernaum  to  A'ain,  still  on  the  same  blessed 
errand,  to  do  good  to  the  bodies  and  the  souls  of  men.  Oh  that 
our  lives,  in  their  humbler  sphere,  might  be  such  a  circle  of  vir- 
tues and  graces;  that  we  might  thus  go  about  doing  good;  and 
might  learn,  by  the  happiest  of  all  arts,  to  make  the  close  of  one 
useful  and  pious  action  the  beginning  of  another! 

Of  him  may  we  also  learn  the  most  engaging  manner  of  con- 
ferring benefits;  that  lovely  mixture  of  freedom  and  tenderness, 
which  heightens  the  sweetness,  and  doubles  the  value  of  every 
favour !  May  our  hearts  imbibe  the  same  temper,  and  it  will  dif- 
fuse on  our  actions  some  proportionable  gracefulness.  May  our 
Ifowels,  like  his,  yearn  over  the  afflicted,  and  our  hand  be  evej 


112  HABHONT  OF   THE 

ready  thus  gently  to  uripe  away  their  tears.  But,  O  Gracioug 
Redeemer,  bow  impotent  is  our  pity  when  compared  with  thine; 
with  thine,  which  could  call  back  lamented  children  from  the 
grave,  and  turn  the  sorrows  of  a  weeping  parent  into  a  torrent  of 
joy.  We  are  sometimes  ready  fondly  to  say,  "  Oh  that  thou  hadst 
been  near  when  the  darlings  of  our  hearts  were  snatched  away 
from  us,  and  we  left  them  in  the  dust !"  But  thou  indeed  wast 
near;  for  thou  hast  the  keys  of  death  and  the  unseen  world. 
And  this  we  know,  that,  if  our  beloved  children  are  sleeping  in 
thee,  thy  voice  shall  at  length  awaken  them  ;  and  thou  wilt  deliver 
them  to  us,  to  die  no  more;  and  wilt  thyself  graciously  take  part 
in  that  mutual  and  lasting  joy  which  thou  shalt  give  to  us  and  to 
them. 


SECTION  XII. 

Matt.  xi.  2 — 6. — Luke  vii.  19 — 23. 

Now  when  John  had  heard  in  the  prison  the  works  of 
Christ,  he  calling  unto  him  two  of  his  disciples,  sent 
them  unto  Jesus,  saying,  Art  thou  he  that  should  come» 
or  look  we  for  another  ?  When  the  men  were  come  unto 
him,  they  said,  John  Baptist  hath  sent  us  unto  thee,  say- 
ing, Art  thou  he  that  should  come,  or  look  we  for  ano- 
ther ?  And  in  that  same  hour  he  cured  many  o^  their  in- 
firmities, and  plagues,  and  of  evil  spirits,  and  to  many 
that  were  blind  he  gave  sight.  Then  Jesus  answering, 
said  unto  them.  Go  your  way  and  tell  John  again  what 
things  ye  have  seen  and  heard,  how  that  the  blind  re- 
ceive their  sight,  ihe  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed, 
the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,  and  to  the  poor 
the  gospel  is  preached.  And  blessed  is  he,  whosoever 
shall  not  be  offended  in  me. 

We  have  here  in  John  the  Baptist  a  very  edifying  instance  of 
a  most  candid  and  pious  terrper.  How  solicitous  was  he  to  re- 
move those  scruples  from  the  minds  of  his  disciples  which,  per- 
haps, their  excessive  fondness  for  him  might  have  occasioned  J 
He  wisely  seiids  them  to  converse  with  Jesus  themselves :  and 
surely  they  who  most  accurately  inquire  into  the  credentials  he 
brings,  will  be  most  effectually  convinced  and  impressed  by  them. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  1  1  3 

Let  U9,  when  tempted  to  doubt  of  the  truth  of  Christianity ,  re- 
collect the  various  and  unanswerable  proofs  of  it,  which  are 
summed  up  in  these  comprehensive  words  ;  arising  fiom  ihe  mi' 
racles  and  character  of  our  Redeemer .  and  the  prophetic  testimony 
that  was  borne  to  him.  Let  us  paiiicuUrly  rejoice  th-^t  the  poor 
have  the  gospel  preached:  and  that  the  blessings  of  it  are  offered 
to  enrich  thr  souls  of  those,  whose  bodily  necessities  we  oftea 
pity,  without  having;  it  in  our  power  to  relieve  them. 

And,  since  our  Lord  pronounces  a  blessing  upon  those  that 
shall  not  be  offended  in  him,  let  us  consider  what  those  things 
are,  in  the  doctrine  or  circumstances  of  Christ,  which  have  proved 
the  most  dan£;erous  stumbling-blocks,  and  endeavour  to  fortify  our 
souls  against  those  temptations  which  may  arise  from  them.  So 
the  trial  of  that  Jailh  which  is  a  much  more  valuable  treasure 
than  gold  which  perishes,  though  tried  in  the  fire,  may  be  found 
unto  praise,  and  honour,  and  glory,  (1  Peter  i.  7, )  and  we,  on 
the  whole,  may  be  advanced  in  our  way  by  incidents  which  at 
first  threatened  to  turn  us  entiiely  out  of  it;  as  ihe  faith  of  these 
disciples  of  John  must  surely  be  confirmed  by  those  doubts  which 
they  had  for  a  while  entertained. 


SECTION  XIII. 

Matt.  xi.  7 — 19.     Luke  vii.  24 — 35. 

And  when  the  messengers  of  John  were  departed,  Je- 
sus began  to  say  unto  the  multitudes  concerning  John, 
What  went  ye  out  into  the  wilderness  to  see  ?  A  reed 
shaken  with  the  wind  ?  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to 
see  ?  A  man  clothed  in  soft  raiment  ?  Behold  they 
that  wear  soft  clothing,  and  are  gorgeously  apparelled, 
and  live  delicately,  are  in  kings'  courts.  But  what  went 
ye  out  for  to  see  ?  a  prophet  ?  Yea,  I  say  unto  you,  and 
much  more  than  a  prophet.  For  this  is  he,  of  whom  it 
is  written.  Behold,  I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face, 
which  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee.  For,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  Among  them  that  are  born  of  women 
there  hath  not  risen  a  greater  prophet  than  John  the 
Baptist:  notwithstanding  he  that  is  least  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  greater  than  he.  And  from  the  days  of 
John  the  Baptist  until  now,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  suf- 

11* 


1  1 4  HABMONY  OF  THE 

fereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force.  For 
all  the  prophets  and  the  law  prophesied  until  John. 
And  if  ye  will  receive  itt  this  is  Elias,  which  was  for  to 
come.     He  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

And  all  the  people  that  heard  Am,  and  the  publicans, 
justified  God,  being  baptized  with  the  baptism  of  John. 
But  the  pharisees  and  lawyers  rejected  the  counsel  of 
God  against  themselves,  being  not  baptized  of  him. 

And  the  Lord  said,  Whereunto  then  shall  I  liken  the 
men  of  this  generation  ?  and  to  what  are  they  like  ? 
They  are  like  unto  children  sitting  in  the  market-place, 
and  calling  one  to  another,  and  saying.  We  have  piped 
unto  you,  and  ye  have  not  danced  :  we  have  mourned 
unto  you,  and  ye  have  not  wept.  For  John  the  Bap- 
tist came  neither  eating  bread  nor  drinking  wine  ;  and 
ye  say.  He  hath  a  devil.  The  Son  of  man  is  come  eat- 
ing and  drinking  ;  and  ye  say.  Behold  a  gluttonous  man, 
and  a  winebibber,  a  friend  of  publicans  and  sinners. 
But  wisdom  is  justified  of  all  her  children. 


How  happy  would  it  be,  if  we  could  leam  to  correct  the  natu- 
ral inconsistencies  of  our  temper  and  conduct  by  wise  reflections 
and  considerations  !  How  much  more  improving  would  our  at- 
tendance on  the  ministrations  of  God's  servants  be,  were  we  seri- 
ously to  ask  o  atselves  to  what  purpose  we  attended ! 

It  ought  surely  to  be  followed  with  such  considerations,  since 
it  is  intended  to  lead  us  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  a  glorious 
prize!  too  gloiious  to  be  obtained  by  faint  wishes  and  inactive 
desires.  There  is  a  sense  in  which  it  still  suffers  violence;  and 
how  sad  is  the  degeneracy  of  our  natures,  that  we  should  exert  so 
little  warmth  in  such  a  pursuit,  and  so  much  for  every  trifle  !  In- 
stead of  that  holy  ardour  with  which  men  should  press  into  itt 
they  fold  their  hands  in  their  bosoms,  and  lose  themselves  in  soft 
luxurious  dreams,  till  the  precious  opportunity  is  for  ever  gone. 
May  Divine  Grace  display  the  crowns  and  palms  of  victory  before 
our  eyes,  in  so  awakening  a  manner,  that  we  may  joyfully  seize 
them,  whatever  obstacles  may  lie  in  our  way,  whatever  must  be 
done,  or  whatever  must  be  borne  to  secure  them ! 

Let  us  not,  as  we  love  our  own  souls,  through  a  proud  self-suf- 
ficiency reject  the  gracious  counsels  of  God  which  are  addressed 
to  us,  lest  we  should  be  another  day  condemned  by  publicans  and 
sinners.    Divine  providence  and  grace  are  using  a  variety  of  me* 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  115 

thods  with  us :  let  not  our  perverseness  and  folly,  like  that  of  the 
Jews^  frustrate  them  all  ;  but  rather  let  us  shew  ourselves  the 
children  of  wisdom,  by  falling  in  with  its  measures  and  improving 
as  well  as  applauding  them. 


SECTION  XIV. 

Matthew  xi.  20 — 30. 

Then  began  he  to  upbraid  the  cities  wherein  most  of 
his  mighty  works  were  clone,  because  they  repented 
not.  Woe  unto  thee,  Chorazin  !  woe  unto  thee,  Beth- 
saida  !  for  if  the  mighty  works,  which  were  done  in  you, 
had  been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon,  they  would  have  re- 
pented long  ago  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.  But  I  say 
unto  you.  It  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Sidon 
at  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  you.  And  thou,  Ca- 
pernaum, which  art  exalted  unto  heaven,  shalt  be  brought 
down  to  hell :  for  if  the  mighty  works,  which  have  been 
done  in  thee,  had  been  done  in  Sodom,  it  would  have 
remained  until  this  day.  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  it 
shall  be  more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  in  the  day 
of  judgment,  than  for  thee. 

At  that  time  Jesus  answered  and  said,  I  thank  thee, 
O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  because  thou  hast 
hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast 
revealed  them  unto  babes.  Even  so.  Father  :  for  so  it 
seemed  good  in  Ihy  sight.  All  things  are  delivered 
unto  me  of  my  Father  :  and  no  man  knoweth  the  Son, 
but  the  Father :  neither  knoweth  any  man  the  Father, 
save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  will  reveal 
him. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  la- 
den, and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you, 
and  learn  of  me  ;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart : 
and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my  yoke  is 
easy,  and  my  burden  is  light. 


116  HARMONY    OF   THE 

What  can  we  imagine  more  dreadful  than  the  guilt  and  con- 
demnation of  those  who  hear  the  gospel  only  to  despise  it  I  How 
can  we  read  the  doom  of  Chorazin,  Bethsaida,  and  Capernaum, 
without  trembling  for  ourselves,  lest  we  should  incur  the  like  sen- 
tence !  Such  have  been  our  religious  advantages  and  opportuni- 
ties, that,  liite  them,  we  have  indeed  been  lijfled  up  to  heaven. 
The  Lord  grant  that  we  may  not,  by  our  misimprovement  and 
disobedience,  be  cast  down  to  the  lowest  hell!  that  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  and  even  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  may  not  at  last  rise  up 
in  judgment  against  us^  and  call  down  on  our  heads  a  punish- 
ment more  intolerable  than  that  which  has  fallen  upon  themy  or 
which  they  must  even  then  feel ! 

Our  vain  curiosity  may  perhaps  be  ready  to  ask,  Why  were 
these  advantages  given  to  them  that  abused  them,  rather  than  to 
those  who  would  have  improved  them  better?  But  let  us  impose 
upon  our  minds  a  reverential  silence ;  since  the  great  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth  giveth  not  an  account  of  any  of  his  matters, 
(Job  xxxiii.  13.)  It  is  so.  Father;  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy 
sight ! 

Still  we  see  the  gospel  hid  from  many  who  are  esteemed  the 
wisest  and  most  prudent  of  mankind;  and,  blessed  be  God,  we 
still  see  it  revealed  to  some,  who,  in  comparison  of  them,  are  but 
babes.  Let  not  this  offend  us  ;  hut  rather  taking  our  notions  from 
the  word  of  God,  let  us  learn  to  honour  these  babes  as  possessed 
of  the  truest  wisdom,  and  adore  the  riches  o{  Divine  grace,  if  we 
are  in  their  number,  while  many  of  superior  capacities  are  left  to 
stumble  at  this  stone  till  they  fall  into  tinal  ruin. 

Whatever  objections  are  brought  against  Christ  and  his  ways, 
may  we  ever  adhere  to  them,  since  all  things  are  delivered  to  him 
by  the  Father!  From  him  therefore  may  we  seek  the  true  know- 
ledge of  God,  as  ever  we  desire  everlasting  life  ! 

We  have  all  our  burdens  of  sin  and  of  sorrow  !  While  we  la- 
bour under  them,  let  us  with  pleasure  hear  the  gentle  and  melo- 
dious voice  of  a  Redeemer,  thus  kindly  inviting  us  to  come  unto 
him,  that  we  may  find  rest  to  our  souls.  Let  us  with  pleasure 
subject  ourselves  to  him,  and  go  on  in  our  holy  course  with  that 
improvement  and  cheerfulness  which  become  those  who  learn  by 
their  own  daily  experience  that  his  commandments  are  not  grie^ 
voua,  and  feel  that  his  yoke  is  easy  and  his  burden  is  light. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  1 17 

SECTION  XV. 

Luke  vii.  36 — 50. 

And  one  of  the  Pharisees  desired  him  that  he  would 
eat  with  him.  And  he  went  into  the  Pharisee's  house, 
and  sat  down  to  meat.  And,  behold  a  woman  in  the 
city,  which  was- a  sinner,  when  she  knew  that  Jesus  sat 
at  meat  in  the  Pharisee's  house,  brought  an  alabaster 
box  of  ointment ;  and  stood  at  his  feet,  behind  liim  weep- 
ing, and  began  to  wash  his  feet  with  tears,  and  did  wipe 
them  with  the  hairs  of  her  head,  and  kissed  his  feet,  and 
anointed  them  with  the  ointment.  Now  when  the  Pha- 
risee which  had  bidden  him  saw  itf  he  spake  within  him- 
self, saying.  This  man,  if  he  were  a  prophet,  would  have 
known  who,  and  what  manner  of  woman  this  is  that 
toucheth  him  :  for  she  is  a  sinner.  And  Jesus  answering 
said  unto  him,  Simon,  I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto 
thee.     And  he  sailh,  Master,  say  on. 

There  was  a  certain  creditor  which  had  two  debtors: 
the  one  owed  five  hundred  pence,  and  the  other  fifty. 
And  when  they  had  nothing  to  pay,  he  frankly  forgave 
them  both.  Tell  me,  therefore,  which  of  them  will  love 
him  most  ?  Simon  answered  and  said,  I  suppose  that 
he,  to  whom  he  forgave  most.  And  he  said  unto  him, 
Thou  hast  rightly  judged. 

And  he  turned  to  the  woman,  and  said  unto  Simon, 
Seest  thou  this  woman  ?  I  entered  into  thine  house, 
thou  gavest  me  no  water  for  my  feet :  but  she  hath  wash- 
ed my  feet  with  tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the  hairs  of 
her  head.  Thou  gavest  me  no  kiss  :  but  this  woman 
since  the  time  I  came  in  hath  not  ceased  to  kiss  my 
feet.  My  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not  anoint ;  but  this 
woman  hath  anointed  my  feet  with  ointment.  Where- 
fore I  say  unto  thee,  Her  sins,  which  are  many,  are  for- 
given ;  for  she  loved  much  :  but  to  whom  little  is  for- 
given, the  same  loveth  little.  And  he  said  unto  her,  Thy 
sins  are  forgiven. 


118  HABMONY  OF  THE 

And  they  that  sat  at  meat  with  him  began  to  say  with- 
in themselves,  Who  is  this  that  forgiveth  sins  also  ?  And 
he  said  to  the  woman,  Thy  faith  hath  saved  thee  :  go  in 
peace. 

How  joyful  an  assurance  must  this  be  to  a  soul  thus  bowed 
down  and  humbled  in  the  very  dust  under  a  sense  of  sin  !  How 
light  did  the  reproaches  of  men  sit  upon  her  when  she  heard  these 
reviving  words  from  the  mouth  of  the  great  Saviour,  who  alone 
had  authority  to  pronounce  them  I 

Our  hearts  surely  upbraid  us  with  many  and  aggravated  sins  ; 
but  we  hear  the  tidings  of  pardon;  let  us  gladly  embrace  it ;  and 
acknowledging  that  not  five  hundred  pence,  nor  even  ten  thou- 
sand talents,  are  sufficient  to  express  the  greatness  of  our  debt; 
let  us  retain  the  remembrance  of  it,  even  when  we  hope  that  God 
has  forgiven  it ;  and  let  us  labour  that  the  tenderness  of  our  love, 
the  warmth  of  our  zeal,  and  the  steadiness  of  our  obedience,  may 
in  some  measure  be  proportionable  to  it:  and,  blessed  Jesus,  how 
distinguished  must  they  then  be  ! 

Let  us  with  humble  pleasure  approach  this  compassionate 
Friend  of  sinners  ;  who,  though  in  one  sense  separate  from  them, 
yet  thus  freely  and  graciously  encouraged  the  chief  of  them  to 
apply  to  hira,  though  he  well  knew  that  condescension  would  ex- 
pose him  to  the  censure  of  the  self-conceited  Pharisees,  May 
God  preserve  us  from  that  arrogant  confidence  in  our  own  righte- 
ousness, which,  while  it  leads  us  to  despise  some,  perhaps  much 
dearer  to  him  than  oui selves,  would  proportionably  sink  our  value 
for  the  Saviour,  and  our  love  to  him ! 

As  for  what  remains,  let  the  candour  with  which  Christ  ac- 
cepted this  invitation,  and  the  gentleness  and  prudence  with 
which  he  behaved  at  this  ensnaring  entertainment,  teach  us  to 
mingle  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  with  the  innocence  and  sweet- 
ness of  the  dove  ;  and  neither  absolutely  to  refuse  9.\\  favours,  nor 
severely  to  resent  all  neglects  from  those,  whose  friendship  might 
at  best  be  very  dubious,  and  their  intimacy  by  no  means  safe. 

To  conclude  ;  let  us  avoid  that  very  ill  temper  which  this  Pha- 
risee shewed  in  upbraiding  this  poor  humble  penitent  with  the 
scandals  of  her  former  life.  Where  we  have  reason  to  believe  that 
sin  has  been  lamented  and  forsaken,  and  consequently  that  God 
has  forgiven  it,  let  us  cheerfully  receive  those  whom  our  holy 
Master  has  not  rejected  ;  and  if  the  remembrance  oi  former  irre- 
gularities c^nuot  be  entirely  lost,  let  it  only  engage  us  to  magnify 
the  riches  of  Divine  grace  toward  such  persons,  and  to  rejoice 
with  them  in  the  display  of  it. 


FOim   GOSPELS.  119 


SECTION  XVI. 

Matthew  xii.  22 — 32.     Mark  iii.  20 — 21. 
Luke  viii.  1 — 3. 

And  it  came  to  pass  afterward,  that  Jesus  went  through- 
out every  city  and  village,  preaching  and  shewing  the 
glad  tidings  of  the  kingdom  of  God  :  and  the  twelve 
were  with  him,  and  certain  women,  which  had  been 
healed  of  evil  spirits  and  infirmities,  Mary  called  Mag- 
dalene, out  of  whom  went  seven  devils,  and  Joanna  the 
wife  ofChuza,  Herod's  steward,  and  Susanna,  and  many 
others,  whicii  ministered  unto  him  of  their  substance. 
And  the  multitude  cometh  together  again,  so  that  they 
could  not  so  much  as  cat  bread.  And  when  his  friends 
heard  of  it,  they  went  out  to  lay  hold  on  him  :  for  they 
said  he  is  beside  himself  Then  was  brought  unto  him 
one  possessed  of  a  devil,  blind  and  dumb  :  and  he  heal- 
ed him,  insomuch  that  the  blind  and  dumb  both  spake 
and  saw.  And  all  the  people  were  amazed,  and  said, 
Is  not  this  the  son  of  David  ? 

Matthew  xii.  24 — 34.     Mark  hi.  22 — 30. 

But  the  Pharisees,  when  they  heard  it,  and  the  Scribes 
which  came  down  from  Jerusalem,  said,  TliisyeZZoMJhath 
Beelzebub,  and  by  the  prince  of  the  devils  casteth  he 
out  devils.  But  Jesus  knew  their  thoughts,  and  called 
them  unto  him,  and  said  unto  them  in  parables,  How 
can  Satan  cast  out  Satan  ?  Every  kingdom  divided 
against  itself  is  brought  to  desolation  ;  and  every  city  or 
house  divided  against  itself  shall  not  stand.  And  if  Sa- 
tan rise  up  against  and  cast  out  Satan,  he  is  divided 
against  himself:  how  shall  then  his  kingdom  stand  ?  He 
cannot  stand,  but  hath  an  end.  And  if  I  by  Beelzebub 
cast  out  devils,  by  whom  do  your  children  castthem  oat  ? 
therefore  they  shall  be  your  judges.     But  if  I  cast  out 


120  HABHONT    OF   THE 

devils  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  then  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
come  unto  you.  Or  else  how  can  one  enter  into  a  strong 
man's  house,  and  spoil  his  goods,  except  he  first  bind 
the  strong  man  ?  and  then  he  will  spoil  his  house.  He 
that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me  ;  and  he  that  gather- 
eth  not  with  me  scattereth  abroad.  Wherefore,  verily  I 
say  unto  you.  All  sins  shall  be  forgiven  unto  the  sons  of 
men  and  blasphemies  wherewith  soever  they  shall  blas- 
pheme ;  but  the  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost  shall 
not  be  forgiven  unto  men  :  And  whosoever  speaketh  a 
word  against  the  Son  of  man,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him  : 
but  whosoever  speaketh  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  shall 
not  be  forgiven  him,  n^ithpr  in  thk  world,  neither  in  the 
world  to  come  ;  but  he  is  in  danger  of  eternal  damna- 
tion :  Because  they  said,  He  hath  an  unclean  spirit. 


How  condescending  was  the  conduct  of  the  blessed  Jesus 
while  he  dwelt  among  us !  Though  he  was  Lord  of  all,  he  not 
only  waved  the  pompous  manner  of  subsisting  hy  continued 
miracles^  but  likewise  declined  to  dwell  with  the  rich  and  the 
great,  with  whom  he  could  easily  have  secured  to  himself  a 
constant  abode.  He  chose  a  laborious  itinerant  course,  and 
subsisted  chiefly  on  the  bounty  of  a  few  pious  women,  whose 
company  and  friendship  he  did  not  despise.  That  subsistence 
was  most  pleasing  to  him  which  was  the  greatest  tsstimony  of 
the  respect  and  affection  of  his  hearers,  and  at  tht  same  time 
gave  the  greatest  opportunity  to  testify  his  own  humility  and 
self-denial,  and  to  pursue  his  schemes  for  public  usefulness. 
So  may  his  followers,  and  especially  his  ministers,  always 
judge  !  And  may  all  the  great  things  they  seek  for  themselves 
be  such  as  lie  on  the  other  side  of  the  grave,  and  are  to  be  en- 
joyed in  the  presence  of  our  glorifitd  Master. 

We  have  seen  another  triumph  of  Christ  over  the  evil  spirit^ 
another  of  those  glorious  and  delightful  instances,  in  which  the 
great  Captain  of  our  salvation,  with  superior  strength,  bound 
the  strong  man,  and  spoiled  his  goods.  May  the  victory  still  be 
carried  on  to  perfection  !  May  his  merciful  alarms  break  the 
dangerous  and  fatal  peace  in  which  the  slaves  of  Satan  are  for  a 
while  detained,  that  he  may  with  greater  advantage,  and 
greater  terror,  plunge  them  into  final  and  eternal  ruin .'  And, 
in  such  a  contest,  may  we  abhor  neutrality.  With  pleasure  and 
seal  let  us  list  ourselve*  under  the  Rtdeemtr'i  banners,  that  we 


FOl?E    GOSPELS. 


121 


may  share  his  trophies  !  And,  while  others  are  throwing  away 
their  time,  their  labour  and  their  souls,  may  we,  by  gathering 
with  him  secure  to  ourselves  everlasting  riches  ! 

We  must  surely  be  astonished  to  hear  of  that  perverse  and 
malignant  interp relation  vfhich  these  wretches  put  on  such  con- 
vincing miracles ;  and  it  must  move  our  indignation  to  see  the 
Son  of  God  maliciously  charged  as  an  associate  with  Satc.n.  If 
they  have  thus  called  the  Master  of  the  house  Beelzebub,  hoicmuch 
more  those  of  his  household?  (Matt.  x.  25.)  Let  us  learn  to 
imitate  that  meekness  of  wisdom,  with  which  the  blessed  Jesus 
pursues  his  vindication.  Oh  that  his  followers  had  ever  traced 
it !  Yea,  I  had  almost  said,  Oh  that  they  had  learned,  even 
from  the  union  of  conjederate  enemies,  the  danger  of  that  house 
or  kingdom  which  is  unnaturally  divided  against  itself! 

It  is  matter  of  great  thankfulness  thus  expressly  to  hear  that 
evert/  other  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  forgiven ;  but  auful  to 
think  that  the  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost  is  excepted. 
Let  those,  who,  while  they  canwot  deny  the  facts  of  Christianity , 
despise  and  oppose  its  doctrines,  tremble  to  think  how  near 
they  approach  to  the  boundaries  of  this  sin,  which  is  perhaps 
more  obscurely  described  that  we  may  more  cautiously  avoid  all 
such  approaches.  But  let  not  the  humble  soul,  that  trembles  at 
God''s  word,  meditate  terror  to  itself  from  such  a  passage  ;  which, 
when  viewed  in  its  due  connexion,  cannot,  with  any  shadow  of 
reason,  be  thought  to  belong  to  any,  who  do  not  obstinately  re- 
ject the  gospel,  and  maliciously  oppose  if,  when  made  known  to 
them  with  Hi  fullest  evidence. 


SECTION  XVII. 
Matthew  xn.  33 — 45. 

Either  make  the  tree  good,  and  his  fruit  good  :  or 
else  make  the  tree  corrupt,  and  his  fruit  corrupt :  for 
the  tree  is  known  by  his  fruit.  O  generation  of  vipers, 
how  can  ye,  beinu^  evil,  speak  good  things  ?  for  out  of 
the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.  A  good 
man  out  of  the  good  treasure  of  the  heart  bringeth  forth 
good  things  :  and  an  evil  man  out  of  the  evil  treasure 
bringeth  forth  evil  things.  But  I  say  unto  you.  That 
every  idle  word  that  men  shall  speak,  they  shall  give  ac- 
count thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment.  For  by  thy  words 

12 


122  HARMONY    OP    THE 

thou  shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be 
condemned. 

Then  certain  of  the  Scribes  and  of  the  Pharisees 
tempting  him  answered,  saying,  Master,  we  would  see 
a  sio;n  from  heaven  from  thee.  But  he  answered  and 
said  to  them.  An  evil  and  adulterous  generation  seeketh 
after  a  sign  ;  and  there  shall  no  sign  be  given  to  it,  but 
the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonas.  For  as  Jonas  was  three 
days  and  three  nights  in  the  whale's  belly  ;  so  shall  the 
Son  of  man  be  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the  heart 
of  the  earth.  The  men  of  Nineveh  shall  rise  in  judgment 
with  this  generation,  and  shall  condemn  it ;  because  they 
repented  at  the  preaching  of  Jonas;  and,  behold,  a 
greater  than  Jonas  is  here.  The  queen  of  the  south 
shall  rise  up  in  the  judgment  with  this  generation,  and 
shall  condemn  them  ;  for  she  came  from  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth  to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon  ;  and, 
behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here. 

When  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out  of  a  man,  he 
walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest,  and  findeth 
none.  Then  he  saith,  I  will  return  into  my  house  from 
whence  I  came  out ;  and  when  he  is  come,  he  findeth  it 
empty,  swept,  and  garnished.  Then  goeth  he,  and 
taketii  with  himself  seven  other  spirits  more  wicked  than 
himself,  and  they  enter  in  and  dwell  there  :  and  the  last 
state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first.  Even  so  shall 
it  be  also  unto  this  wicked  generation. 

Let  us  especially  attend  to  those  instructions  we  have  here 
received,  and  judge  of  ourselves  by  our  fruits ;  never  flattering 
ourselves  that  our  hearts  are  good^  if  our  lives  are  abominable 
and  disobedient^  and  to  every  good  work  reprobate.  (Titus  i.  16.) 
And  in  particular  let  us  remember,  that  not  our  actions  only, 
but  the  fruits  of  our  lips,  are  to  be  brought  into  the  solemn 
account  which  we  must  give  to  the  great  Judge  of  ali  the  earth ; 
and  that  the  day  is  coming,  when  all  our  idle  and  unprofitable 
talk,  which  has  proceeded  /row  the  evil  treasure  of  a  depraved 
heart,  will  undergo  a  strict  examination,  and  we  must  answer 
not  for  our  actions  only,  but  shall  be  justified  or  condemned  by 
our  words.  And,  U  foolish  and  %vicked  speeches  are  to  be  ac- 
counted for  in  the  day  of  judgment, let  us  set  a  watch  on  the  door 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  123 

of  our  lips  to  prevent  them:  and  labour  daily  to  use  our  tongue 
so,  that  it  may  indeed  be,  as  it  is  m  sc rrp^wre  called,  our  glory, 
(Psalm  xvi.  9,  sxx.  12.) 

For  that  purpose,  let  it  be  our  great  care  to  lay  up  a  good 
treasure  of  Christian  knowledge  and  experience  in  our  hearts ; 
that  while  too  many  are  poisoning  those  that  are  round  about 
them  with  erroneous  principles  and  vicious  discourses,  the  open- 
ing of  our  lips  may  be  of  righteous  things ;  and  we  may  still  be 
ready,  upon  all  proper  occasions,  with  freedom,  variety,  and 
spirit,  to  bring  forth  good  and  profitable  things  from  the  good 
treasure  of  our  hearts  ;  which  may  be  edifying  unto  those  that 
hear  us,  and  may  go  from  one  heart  to  another.  So  will  the 
Lord  himself  hearken  with  pleasure  unto  what  we  speak,  and 
exactly  record  it  in  the  book  of  remembrance  that  is  written  be- 
fore him  ;  and  producing  it  at  last  to  our  public  honour,  will  own 
us  for  his,  in  the  day  when  he  makes  up  his  jewels.  (Mai.  iii.  16, 

Let  us,  to  whom  the  revelation  of  the  gospel  is  so  clearly 
made, /ear.  lest  these  dreadful  things  should  come  upon  us,  and 
the  abuse  of  our  advantages  should  render  us  an  easy  prey  to 
Satan,  and  a  fit  habitation  for  the  powers  of  darkness.  Let  those 
particularly  fear  it,  who,  having  been  brought  to  some  serious 
impressions  and  some  external  reformation,  are  tempted  to  re- 
lapse into  former  vices,  which  would  render  their  latter  end  far 
worse  than  their  beginning,  (2  Peter  ii.  20  ;)  God  has  permitted 
some  such  awful  instances  to  occur ;  and  unhappy  wretches,  per- 
haps, some  of  them  the  children  of  religious  parents  too,  who 
were  once  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God,  have  so  abandoned 
every  principle  of  religion,  and  every  sentiment  of  wisdom  and 
virtue,  that  it  seems  as  if  seven  devils  had  possessed  them,  and 
were  driving  them  headlong  to  destruction. 

May  we,  instead  of  demanding  further  evidence  of  Christianity/ 
than  the  wisdom  of  God  has  seen  fit  to  give  us,  make  it  our  care 
to  hear  and  obey  and  diligently  improve  the  light  we  have  re- 
ceived !  May  we  be  brought  to  a  sincere  and  lasting  repentance 
by  the  preaching  of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  lest  the  J^inevites 
rise  up  in  judgment  against  us  and  condemn  us !  May  we  own 
the  superior  wisdom  oiihis  Divine  Teacher,  this  better  5oZo?non; 
and  say,  as  the  queen  of  Sheba  to  the  Jewish  prince,  (1  Kings 
X.  8.)  Happy  are  these  thy  servants,  who  stand  continually  before 
thee,  and  hear  thy  xcisdom  !  for  thou  speakest  as  never  man  spake, 
(John  vii.  46 ;)  and  in  thee  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  know- 
ledge are  hid,  (Col.  ii.  3.)  But  oh,  how  many  are  curious  to 
know  what  little  concerns  them,  and  are  fond  of  improving  their 
own  wit  and  trying  that  of  others  by  hard  questions,  while  the 
far  more  obvious  and  important  points  of  wisdom  are  neglected 
as  beneath  their  regard ;  as  if  every  thing  were  more  necessary 


124  HARMtirvY    OF    THE 

than  being  wise  to  salvation  I  We  need  not  travel  to  distant 
climates  to  learn  this  heavenly  philosophy ;  no,  it  is  nigh  us.  even 
in  our  mouth ;  and  we  are,  on  that  account,  so  much  the  more 
inexcusable  if  it  be  not  also  in  our  heart.     (Rom.  x.  8.) 

SECTION  XVllI. 

Matthew  xii.  46 — 50.     Mark  hi.  31 — 35. 

While  he  yet  talked  to  the  people,  behold,  there  came 
then  his  mother  and  his  brethren,  and  standing  without, 
sent  unto  him,  calling  him,  desiring  to  speak  with  him. 
And  the  multitude  sat  about  him.  Then  one  said  unto 
him.  Behold,  thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  stand  without, 
desiring  to  speak  with  thee.  But  he  answered  and  said 
unto  him  that  told  him.  Who  is  my  mother  ?  and  who 
are  my  brethren  ?  And  he  looked  round  about  on  them 
which  sat  about  him,  and  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  to- 
ward his  disciples,  and  said,  Behold,  my  mother  and  my 
brethren  !  For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister, 
and  mother. 


So  may  it  be  our  care  to  do  the  ivill  of  God.,  that  we  may  be 
thus  dear  to  our  Redeemer.,  who  ought  by  so  many  tender  bonds 
to  be  dear  to  us;  and  who,  by  such  gracious  and  indulgent  de- 
clarations, as  these  which  we  have  now  been  readino;,  is  drawing 
us  as  with  the  cords  of  a  man,  and  with  the  bands  of  love ! 

Still  does  the  light  of  his  Divine  instructions  shine  with  the 
brightest  lustre^  and  diffuse  itself  around  us  !  Let  us  open  the 
eyes  of  our  mind  with  singleness  and  simplicity  to  receive  it ;  and 
make  it  our  care  to  act  according  to  it.  Then  shall  we  know,  if 
we  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  (Hosea  vi.  3.)  and  thus  with 
cheerfulness  shall  we  reap  the  fruit  of  bl  well  informed  mind  and 
a  well  regulated  life  I 

May  we  be  delivered  from  all  thosey*a/5e  maxima  which  would 
darken  our  hearts  amidst  all  this  meridian  lustre,  and  turn  our 
boasted  light  into  darkness  I  Would  to  God  there  were  not  re- 
newed instances  of  this  kind  continually  occurring  among  us  ;  and 
that  we  did  not  daily  meet  with  persons  whose  pretended  wisdom 
teaches  them  to  forget  or  despise  the  gospel,  and  so  serves  only 
to  amuse  their  eyes^  while  it  leads  their  feet  to  the  chambers  of 
death ! 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  125 


SECTION  XIX. 

Matthew  XIII.  1 — 17.     Mark  iv.  1 — 9. 
Luke  viii.  4 — 8. 

The  same  day  went  Jesus  out  of  the  house,  and  sat  by 
the  sea-side,  and  began  again  to  teach.  And  great 
multitudes  were  gathered  together  again,  and  were  come 
to  him  out  of  every  city,  so  that  he  went  into  a  ship,  and 
sat  in  the  sea  ;  and  the  whole  multitude  stood  on  the 
shore. 

And  he  spake  unto  them,  and  taught  them  many 
things  by  parables,  and  said  unto  them  in  his  doctrine, 
Hearken  ;  behold,  a  sower  went  out  to  sow  his  seed. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sowed,  some  seeds  fell  by 
the  way  side,  and  it  was  trodden  down,  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  came,  and  devoured  it  up.  And  some  fell  on 
stony  ground,  where  it  had  not  much  earth  ;  and  imme- 
diately it  sprang  up,  because  it  had  no  depth  of  earth. 
But  as  soon  as  it  sprang  up,  when  the  sun  was  up,  it 
was  scorched,  and  because  it  had  no  root,  and  lacked 
moisture,  it  withered  away.  And  some  fell  among 
thorns,  and  the  thorns  grew  up  with  it,  and  choked  it, 
and  it  yielded  no  fruit.  But  other  fell  on  good  ground, 
and  sprang  up,  and  increased  ;  and  brought  forth  fruit, 
some  thirty,  and  some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred-fold. 
And  when  he  had  said  these  things,  he  cried.  He  that 
hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

And  the  disciples  came  and  said  unto  him,  Why 
speakest  thou  unto  them  in  parables  ?  He  answered 
and  said  unto  them,  Because  it  is  given  unto  you  to 
know  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  unto 
them  it  is  not  given.  For  whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall 
be  given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundance ;  but  who- 
soever hath  not,  from  him  shall  be  taken  away  even  that 
he  hath.  Therefore  speak  I  to  them  in  parables  :  be- 
cause they  seeing  see  not ;  and  hearing  they  hear  not, 
neither  do  they  understand.     And  in  them  is  fulfilled 

12* 


126  HARMONY  OF  THK 

the  prophecy  of  Esaias,  which  saith,  By  hearing  ye  shall 
hear,  and  shall  not  understand  :  and  seeing  ye  shall  see, 
and  shall  not  perceive  :  For  this  people's  heart  is  wax- 
ed gross,  and  their  ears  are  dull  of  hearing,  and  their 
eyes  they  have  closed  ;  lest  at  any  time  they  should  see 
with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears,  and  should  un- 
derstand with  their  heart,  and  should  be  converted,  and 
I  should  heal  thorn.  But  blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they 
see  :  and  your  ears  for  they  hear.  For  verily  I  say  unto 
you,  that  many  prophets  and  righteous  men  have  desired 
to  see  those  things  which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  them  ; 
and  to  hear  those  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not 
heard  them. 


Let  us  hear  with  fear  and  trembling;  these  awful  declarations 
from  the  lips  of  the  compassionate  Jesus  himself.  Here  were 
crowds  about  Christy  who  indulged  such  prejudices,  and  at- 
tended with  such  perverse  dispositions,  that  in  righteous  judg- 
ment he  took  an  obscurer  method  of  preaching  to  them,  and  final- 
ly left  many  of  them  uuder  darkness  and  impenitency  to  die  in 
their  sins. 

Let  us  take  heed  lest  the  bounties  of  Divine  providence  should 
be  thus  abused  by  us,  as  a  means  of  casting  us  into  a  stupid  in- 
sensibility of  the  hand  and  voice  of  the  blessed  God :  or  we  may 
otherwise  have  ground  to  fear  lest  he  should  leave  us  to  our 
own  delusions,  and  give  us  up  to  the  lusts  of  our  own  hearts.  And 
then  the  privilege  of  ordinances,  and  of  the  most  awakening 
providential  dispensations  will  be  vain ;  seeing  we  shall  see,  and 
not  perceive  :  and  hearing  we  shall  hear,  and  not  understand. 

It  is  our  peculiar  happiness  under  the  gospel  that  we  see  and 
hear  what  prophets  and  princes  and  saints  of  old,  desired  to  see 
and  hear,  but  were  not  favoured  with  it.  Let  us  be  thankful 
for  our  privilege,  and  improve  it  well ;  lest  a  neglected  gospel 
by  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  be  taken  axvay,  and  our 
abused  seasons  of  grace,  by  one  method  of  Divine  displeasure  or 
other,  be  brought  to  a  speedy  period.  But  if  by  grace  it  is 
given  to  us  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heav€n,\et  us 
learn  a  thankfulness  in  some  measure  proportionable  to  the 
corrupt  prejudices  which  have  been  overborne,  and  the  impor- 
tant blessings  which  are  secured  to  us. 


FOtJR  GOSPELS.  127 

SECTION  XX. 

Matthew  xiii.  24 — 43. 

Another  parable  put  he  forth  unto  them,  saying,  The 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  hkened  unto  a  man  which  sowed 
good  seed  in  his  field  :  But  while  men  slept,  his  enemy 
came  and  sowed  tares  among  the  wheat,  and  went  his 
way.  But  when  the  blade  was  sprung  up,  and  brought 
forth  fruit,  then  appeared  the  tares  also.  So  the  ser- 
vants of  the  househould  came  and  said  unto  him.  Sir, 
didst  thou  not  sow  good  seed  in  tiiy  field  ?  from  whence 
then  hath  it  tares  ?  He  said  unto  them,  An  enemy 
hath  done  this.  The  servants  said  unto  him,  Wilt  thou 
then  that  we  go  and  gather  them  up  ?  But  he  said, 
Nay  ;  lest  while  ye  gather  up  the  tares,  ye  root  up  also 
the  wheat  with  them.  Let  both  grow  together  until 
the  harvest ;  and  in  the  time  of  the  harvest  I  will  say  to 
the  reapers.  Gather  ye  together  first  the  tares,  and  bind 
them  in  bundles  to  burn  them  :  but  gather  the  wheat 
into  my  barn. 

And  his  disciples  came  unto  him,  saying.  Declare 
unto  us  the  parable  of  the  tares  of  the  field.  He  an- 
swered and  said  unto  them,  He  that  sowetli  the  good 
seed  is  the  Son  of  man  ;  the  field  is  the  world  ;  the  good 
seed  are  the  children  of  the  kingdom  ;  but  the  tares  are 
the  children  of  the  wicked  one  ;  the  enemy  that  sowed 
them  is  the  devil ;  the  harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world  ; 
and  the  reapers  are  the  angels.  As  therefore  the  tares 
are  gathered  and  burnt  in  the  fire  ;  so  shall  it  be  in  the 
end  of  this  world.  The  Son  of  man  shall  send  forth  his 
angelsj'and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his  kingdom  all  things 
that  offend,  and  them  which  do  iniquity  ;  and  shall  cast 
them  into  a  furnace  of  fire:  there  shall  be  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeth.  Then  shall  the  righteous  shine  forth 
as  the  sun  in  the  kinjjdom  of  the  Father.  Who  hath 
ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 

Oh  that  these  important  instructions  might,  as  it  were,  be 
ever  sounding  in  our  ears !     It  is  a  matter  of  great  thankfulness 


128  HAUMONY  OF  THE 

that  this  earthy  which  might  have  been  abandond  by  God  as  a 
barren  wilderness^  is  cultivated  as  his  Jield,  and  that  any  good 
seed  is  to  be  found  in  it ;  but  grievous  to  think  how  many  tares 
are  intermingled,  so  as  almost  to  over-run  the  ground,  and  hide 
the  wheat  from  being  seen.  Let  not  a  forward  seal  prompt  us, 
like  these  over- officious  servants,  to  think  of  rooting  them  out 
by  violence;  but  let  us  wait  our  master'^s  time  and  be  patient 
till  the  day  of  the  Lord. 

The  separation  will  at  length  be  made  ;  nor  shall  one  pre- 
cious grain  perish.  Awful  important  time  I  when  the  angels 
shall  perform  their  great  office  with  a  sagacity  too  sharp  to  be 
eluded,  and  sl  power  too  strong  to  be  resisted  !  Gather  not  our 
souls,  OLoid,  icith  sinners  I  but  may  they  be  hound  up  in  the 
bundle  of  life !  that  when  the  day  cometh,  which  shall  burn  as  an 
oven,  and  when  the  wicked  like  chaff  shall  be  thrown  in  to  be 
consumed,  we  may  survey  the  execution  of  the  Divine  judgment 
with  awful  triumph ;  being  owned  by  God  as  his,  while  he  is 
making  up  his  Jewels^  and  spared  by  him  as  his  obedient  chil- 
dren. (Mai.  iii.  17,  and  iv.  1.)  Then  shall  we  not  only  be 
spared,  but  honoured  and  adorned,  and  shine  forth  like  the  sun 
in  ourfatherh  kingdom  ;  for  these  vile  bodies  shall  be  fashioned 
like  to  the  glorious  body  of  our  Redeemer,  (Phil.  iii.  21.)  and  our 
purified  and  perfected  spirits  shall  be  clothed  with  proportion- 
able lustre,  and  reflect  the  complete  image  of  his  holiness. — 
Amen. 

SECTION  XXT. 

Matt.  xiii.  31—35.     Mark  iv.  26—34. 

AisD  he  said,  So  is  the  kingdom  of  God,  as  if  a  man 
should  cast  seed  into  the  ground  ;  and  should  sleep  and 
rise  night  and  day,  and  the  seed  should  spring  and  grow 
up,  he  knoweth  not  how.  For  the  earth  bringeth  forth 
fruit  of  herself,  first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that 
the  full  corn  in  the  ear.  But  when  the  fruit  is  brought 
forth,  immediately  he  putteth  in  the  sickle,  because  the 
harvest  is  come. 

And  he  said,  Whereunto  shall  we  liken  the  king- 
dom of  God  ?  or  with  what  comparison  shall  we  com- 
pare it  ? 

And  another  parable  put  he  forth  unto  them,  saying, 
The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  which  a  man  took,  and  sowed  in  his  field  ;  which 


FOUR  GOSPKLS.  129 

indeed  is  the  least  of  all  seeds  that  be  in  the  earth. 
But  when  it  is  sown,  it  groweth  up,  and  becometh 
greater  than  all  herbs,  and  becometh  a  tree  ;  and  shoot- 
eth  out  great  branches,  so  that  the  birds  of  the  air  come 
and  lodge  in  the  branches  thereof,  and  under  the  shadow 
of  it. 

Another  parable  spake  he  unto  them  ;  The  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  like  unto  leaven,  which  a  woman  took  and 
hid  in  three  measures  of  meal,  till  the  whole  was  lea- 
vened. And  all  these  things  spake  Jesus  unto  the  mul- 
titude in  parables,  and  with  many  such  parables  spake 
he  the  word  unto  them,  as  they  were  able  to  hear  it. 
But  without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto  them  :  and 
when  they  were  alone,  he  expounded  all  things  to  his 
disciples  :  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  the  prophet,  saying,  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  para- 
bles ;  I  will  utter  things  which  have  been  kept  secret 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 


Let  us  be  concerned  to  gather  up  these  fragments^  that  no- 
thing may  be  lost ;  and  to  lay  them  up  in  our  memories  and  our 
hearts,  that,  according  to  our  respective  stations  in  life,  we  may 
have  them  ready  for  use. 

Let  us  remember  that  sometimes  the  growth  of  piety  in  the 
heart  is  like  that  of  vegetables  in  the  earth.  The  seed  of  the 
word  may  for  a  while  seem  lost;  or  when  the  fruit  appears,  it 
may  advance  and  ripen  but  slowly.  Let  not  ministers  there- 
fore too  confidently  conclude  they  have  laboured  in  vain^  and 
spent  their  strength  for  nought,  because  the  fields  are  not  im- 
mediately white  to  the  harvest,  but  with  believing  hope  and 
humble  patience  let  them  recommend  the  seed  that  they  have 
sown  to  Him,  who  by  the  secret  energy  of  his  continued  influ- 
ences, can  give  at  length  a  sure  and  plentiful  increase. 

When  Jesus  took  to  himself  his  great  power^  and  reigned,  the 
gospel,  which  had  gained  so  little  ground  under  his  personal 
ministration,  ran,  and  was  greatly  gloHJitd  in  the  hands  of  the 
apostles.  The  grain  of  mustard  seed  shot  up  and  branched  forth 
into  a  spreading  tree,  and  birds  of  every  wing  took  shelter  there. 
(Oh  that  there  had  been  none  of  the  ravenous  and  the  obscene 
kind!)  Thus  when  the  Lord  shall  please  to  hasten  it  in  his 
time,  a  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong 
nation.     (Isa.  Ix.  22.) 


130  Harmony  of  the 

Let  us  pray  that  the  triumphant  progress  of  his  kingdom  may 
come.  In  the  mean  time  let  it  be  our  desire  that  the  principles 
of  the  gospel  may,  like  a  sacrsd  kind  of  leaven,  diffuse  themselves 
through  our  whole  souls ;  that  all  our  powers  and  faculties, 
that  all  our  thoughts  and  passions,  may  be,  as  it  were,  impreg- 
nated and  elevated  by  them. 


SECTION  XXII. 

Matt.  xiii.  36,  18—23.     Mark  iv.   10—25.     Luke 
VIII.  9—18. 

Then  Jesus  sent  the  multitude  away,  and  went  into  the 
house,  and  when  he  was  alone,  they  that  were  about 
him  with  the  twelve  asked  him,  saying.  What  might  this 
parable  be  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Unto  you  it  is 
given  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  but 
unto  them  that  are  without  all  these  things  are  done  in 
parables.  That  seeing  they  might  not  see  ;  and  hear- 
ing they  might  hear,  and  not  understand  ;  lest  at  any 
time  they  should  be  converted,  and  their  sins  should  be 
forgiven  them.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye  not 
this  parable  ?  And  how  then  will  ye  know  all  parables  ? 
Hear  ye  then  the  parable  of  the  sower.  Now  the  para- 
ble is  this.  The  seed  is  the  word  of  God.  The  sower 
soweth  the  word,  and  those  by  the  way-side  where  the 
word  is  sown  are  they  that  hear  the  word  of  the  king- 
dom and  understand  it  not ;  but  when  they  have  heard 
Satan  cometh  immediately,  and  taketh  away  the  word 
that  was  sown  out  of  their  hearts,  lest  they  should  be- 
lieve and  be  saved.  And  these  are  they  likewise  which 
have  received  the  seed  into  stony  places,  who,  when 
they  have  heard  the  word,  immediately  receive  it  with 
joy  ;  and  these  have  no  root  in  themselves,  and  so  en- 
dure but  for  a  time  :  which  for  a  while  beheve  ;  and  in 
time  of  temptation,  when  tribulation,  affliction,  or  per- 
secution ariseth  for  the  word's  sake,  immediately  they 
are  offended,  and  fall  away.  And  these  are  they  which 
are  sown  among  thorns  :  which,  when  they  have  heard 


FOUR  GOSFELS.  131 

the  word,  go  forth,  and  the  care  of  this  world,  and  the 
deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  pleasures  o^this  life,  and  the 
Just  of  other  things  entering  in,  choke  the  word,  and  it 
bringeth  fruit  to  no  perfection.  And  these  are  they  that 
received  seed  into  the  good  ground  ;  such  as  hear  the 
word,  and  understand  it,  and  receive  it  in  an  honest  and 
good  heart ;  and  having  heard  the  word,  keep  it,  which 
also  bear  fruit  with  patience,  and  bring  forth,  some  an 
hundred-fold,  some  sixty,  and  some  thirty. 

And  he  said  unto  them.  No  man  when  he  hath  light- 
ed a  candle,  covereth  it  with  a  vessel,  or  putteth  it  under 
a  bushel,  or  under  a  bed  ;  but  setteth  it  on  a  candle- 
stick, that  they  which  enter  in  may  see  the  light.  For 
there  is  nothing  hid  which  shall  not  be  manifested  :  nei- 
ther was  any  thing  kept  secret,  that  shall  not  be  known, 
and  come  abroad.  If  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  let 
him  hear.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed  therefore 
what  and  how  ye  hear  :  with  what  measure  ye  mete,  it 
shall  be  measured  to  you  :  and  unto  you  that  hear  shall 
more  be  given.  For  whosoever  hath  to  him  shall  be 
given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundance  ;  but  whoso- 
ever hath  not,  from  him  shall  be  taken  away  even  that 
which  he  seemeth  to  have. 


Let  us  apply  to  ourselves  this  charge  of  our  blessed  Redeemer, 
and  take  heed  how  we  hear.  Especially  let  us  be  very  careful 
that  we  despise  not  him  that  now  speaks  to  us  from  heaven  ;  and 
remember  the  authority,  which  his  exultation  there  gives  to  the 
words  which  he  spake  in  the  days  of  his  flesh. 

Let  us  attentively  hear  tho  parable  of  the  sower  and  its  inter- 
pretation. Still  is  Christ  by  his  word  and  ministers,  sowing 
among  us  the  good  seed.  Still  is  the  great  enemy  of  souls  labour- 
ing to  snatch  it  away.  Let  us  endeavour  to  understand.,  that  we 
may  retain  it ;  and  to  retain,  that  we  may  practise  it.  Still  do 
the  cares  of  this  world  press  us  ;  still  do  its  pleasures  solicit  us  ; 
still  do  our  lusts  war  in  our  members  ;  and  all  unite  their  efforts 
to  prevent  onx  fruitfxdness  in  good  ivorks  ;  but  let  us  remember, 
that  with  having  our  fruit  unto  holiness,  everlasting  life  is  con- 
nected as  the  end ;  and  that  in  due  season  we  shall  reap,  if  we 
faint  not.     (Rom.  vi.  22,  and  Gal.  vi.  9.) 

Let  us  therefore  ba  concerned  that  the  seed  may  take  deep  root, 


132  HARMONY    OF   THE 

I 

in  our  minds,  that  we  may  not  rest  in  any  superficial  impressioEi 
on  the  passions  ;  but,  feeling  the  energy  of  that  limng  principle^ 
may  flourish  under  the  circumstances  which  wither  others,  and 
may  in  due  time  be  gathered  as  God's  wheat  into  his  garner.  Nor 
let  us  repine  if  we  now  go  forth  weeping,  bearing  this  precious 
seed,  while  we  have  such  a  hope  of  coming  again  rejoicing, 
bringing  our  sheaves  with  us.     (Psalm  cxxvi.  6.) 


SECTION  XXIII. 

Matt.  xiii.  44 — 52. 

Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  Hke  unto  treasure  hid 
in  a  field  ;  the  which  when  a  man  hath  found,  he  hideth, 
and  for  joy  thereof  goeth  and  selleth  all  that  he  hath,  and 
buyeth  that  field.  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like 
unto  a  merchantman,  seeking  goodly  pearls  :  Who, 
when  he  had  found  one  pearl  of  great  price,  went  and 
sold  all  that  he  had,  and  bought  it.  Again,  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  net,  that  was  cast  into  the  sea, 
and  gathered  of  every  kind  ;  which,  when  it  was  full, 
they  drew  to  shore,  and  sat  down,  and  gathered  the 
good  into  vessels,  but  cast  the  bad  away.  So  shall  it 
beat  the  end  of  the  world  :  the  angels  shall  come  forth, 
and  sever  the  wicked  from  among  the  just,  and  shall 
cast  them  into  the  furnace  of  fire  ;  there  shall  be  wail- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth. 

Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Have  ye  understood  all  these 
things  ?  They  say  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord.  Then  said  he 
unto  them,  Therefore  every  Scribe  which  is  instructed 
unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  like  unto  a  man  that  is 
an  householder,  which  bringeth  forth  out  of  his  treasure 
things  new  and  old. 

Luke  viii.  19 — 21. 

Then  cometh  to  him  his  mother  and  his  brethren,  and 
could  not  come  at  him  for  the  press.  And  it  was  told 
him  by  certain  which  said,  thy  mother  and  thy  brethren 


FOUR    GOSPELS*  133 

Stand  without,  desiring  to  see  thee.  And  he  answered 
and  said  unto  them,  My  mother  and  my  brethren  are 
these  which  hear  the  word  of  God  and  do  it. 

Let  us  remember  the  value  of  the  blessings  the  gospel  pro- 
poses ;  and  regarding  Christ  as  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  heaven 
as  that  immense  treasure  in  which  alone  we  can  be  for  ever  rich 
and  happy,  let  us  be  willing  to  part  with  all  to  secure  it,  if  we  are 
called  to  such  a  trial. 

It  is  not  enough  that  we  are  nominal  Christians,  or  possessed 
of  the  common  privileges  of  the  church  :  the  day  of  final  separa- 
tion will  come,  and  the  angels  employed  in  the  work  will  not 
overlook  us,  but  conduct  us  to  the  abodes  ot  the  righteous  or  the 
wicked.  Oh  that  we  may  not  then  be  cast  with  abhorrence  into 
the  furnace  of  fire  !  but  now  seriously  realizing  to  ourselves  this 
awful  day,  of  which  our  Lord  has  given  such  repeated  prospects, 
may  we  so  judge  ourselves  that  we  may  not  then  be  condemned 
of  him  I 

SECTION  XXIV. 

Matt.  xin.  53.    Matt.  viii.  18 — 27.    Mark  iv. 
35—41.     Luke  VIII.  22— 25. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Jesus  had  finished  these 
parables,  he  departed  thence. 

And  the  same  day,  when  the  even  was  come,  when 
Jesus  saw  great  multitudes  about  him,  he  gave  com- 
mandment and  saith  unto  them,  let  us  pass  over  unto 
the  other  side.  And  a  certain  Scribe  came,  and  said 
unto  him.  Master,  I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou 
goest.  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  The  foxes  have  holes, 
and  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests  ;  but  the  Son  of  man 
hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head.  And  another  of  his  dis- 
ciples said  unto  him,  Lord,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury 
my  father.  But  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Follow  me,  and 
let  the  dead  bury  their  dead.  And  when  they  had  sent 
away  the  multitude,  they  took  him  even  as  he  was  in 
the  ship,  and  there  were  also  with  him  other  little  ships. 
And  he  said  unto  his  disciples,  Let  us  go  over  unto  the 
other  side  of  the  lake.  And  they  launched  forth.  And 
behold,  there  arose  a  great  storm  of  wind  and  a  great 

13 


134  HAKMONY    OF   THE 

tempest  in  the  sea,  insopiuch  that  the  ship  was  covered 
with  the  waves,  and  the  waves  beat  into  the  ship,  so  that 
it  was  now  full,  and  they  were  in  jeopardy.  And  he 
was  in  the  hinder  part  of  the  ship  asleep  on  a  pillow  ; 
and  his  disciples  came  to  him,  and  awoke  him,  saying, 
Master,  carest  thou  not  that  we  perish  ?  Lord,  save  us, 
or  we  perish.  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Why  are  ye 
fearful,  O  ye  of  little  faith  ?  How  is  it  that  ye  have  no 
faith  ?  Then  he  arose,  and  rebuked  the  winds,  and  the 
raging  of  the  water,  and  said  unto  the  sea.  Peace,  be 
still  ;  and  the  wind  ceased,  and  there  was  a  great  calm. 
But  the  men  feared  exceedingly,  and  marvelled,  and  said 
one  to  another,  What  manner  of  man  is  this  ?  for  he 
commandeth  even  the  winds  and  the  water,  and  even  the 
winds  and  the  sea  obey  him. 


How  great  and  2;lorious  does  our  blessed  Redeemer  appear,  as 
having  all  the  elements  at  his  command,  and  exercising  his  do- 
minion over  the  ivinds  and  seas !  He  stills  the  very  tempests 
Tvhen  they  roar,  and  makes  the  storm  a  calm.  (Ps.  cvii.  29.) 
He  silences  at  once  the  noise  and  fury  of  the  tumultuous  waves; 
and,  in  the  midst  of  its  confu«ion,  says  to  the  raging  sea,  Hitherto 
shall  thou  come,  but  no  farther ;  and  here  shall  thy  proud  waves 
he  stayed.  (Job  xxxviii.  11.)  Who  would  not  reverence  and/car 
him, !  Whov\70uld  notcheeifully  commit  themselves  to  him!  Un- 
der such  a  protection,  how  courageously  may  his  church  ride 
through  every  storm  and  weather  every  danger  !  Christ  is  still 
with  her,  and  she  is  safe  even  while  he  may  seem  to  be  sleeping. 
Blessed  Jesws  /  that  power  of  thine  which  heie  commanded  the 
tempests  into  a  calm,  can  easily  silence  all  our  tumultuous  pas- 
sions, and  reduce  our  souls  to  that  blessed  tranquillity  in  which 
alone  we  can  be  capable  of  enjoying  thee  and  ourselves. 

May  we  still  be  applying  to  Christ  with  such  importunate  ad- 
dresses; and,  sensible  how  much  we  need  his  help,  may  we  cry 
out.  Lord,  save  ^ls,  or  we  perish  !  ;^nd  may  it  be  the  language, 
not  of  suspicion  and  terror,  but  oi  faith;  of  a  faith  determined  at 
all  adventures  to  adhere  to  him,  whatever  dangers  are  to  be  en- 
countered, or  whatever  advantages  are  to  be  resigned ! 

Did  his  compassion  for  us,  and  his  desire  of  our  salvation,  en- 
gage him  to  submit  to  such  destitute  and  calamitous' circum- 
stances, that  when  the  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air 
Tuwe  nests,  the  Son  of  man  himself  Aad  not  a  place  where  he  might 
lay  that  saqred  head  which  with  infinite  mutual  complacency  and 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  135 

delight  he  had  so  often  reposed  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father!  May- 
cur  zeal  and  love  animate  us  cheerfully  to  take  our  part  in  his  in- 
digence and  distress,  if  lie  calls  us  to  it!  May  no  considerations 
of  ease  or  interest,  or  even  of  human  friendship,  lead  us  to  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  calls  of  duty  ;  or  suffer  us,  when  we  once  have 
engaged  in  his  service,  to  think  of  deserting  it,  lest  on  the  whole 
we  should  be  judged  w^Jit  for  the  kingdom  of  God  !     May  thy 

J^race,  O  Lord,  animate  our  souls,  that  nothing-  may  prevent  our 
aithfulness  unto  death,  and  so  deprive  us  of  that  crown  of  life 
which  thy  grace  has  promised  to  such  a  character !  (Rev.  ii.  10.) 


SECTION  XXV. 


Matthew  viii.  28 — 34.  ix.  1.     Mabk  v.  1 — 21. 
Luke  viii.  26 — 40. 


And  they  came  over  unto  the  other  side  of  the  sea,  into 
the  country  of  the  Gadarencs,  and  Gergesenes,  which  is 
over  against  Galilee.  And  when  he  went  forth  out  of 
the  ship  to  land,  there  met  him,  out  of  the  city,  two  pos^ 
sessed  with  devils,  coming  out  of  the  tomhs,  exceeding 
fierce,  so  that  no  man  might  pass  by  that  way.  One  of 
them  had  devils  a  long  time.  And  no  man  could  bind 
him,  no,  not  with  chains  :  Because  that  he  had  been 
often  bound  w  ith  fetters  and  chains,  and  the  chains  had 
been  plucked  asunder  by  him,  and  the  fetters  broken  in 
pieces,  neither  could  any  man  tame  him  :  and  he  was 
driven  of  the  devil  into  the  wilderness  :  and  he  ware  no 
clothes,  neither  abode  in  any  house,  but  always,  night 
and  day,  he  was  in  the  mountains,  and  in  the  tombs, 
crying,  and  cutting  himself  with  stones.  But  when  they 
saw  Jesus  afar  off,  they  ran,  and  fell  down  before  him, 
and  worshipped  him,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
What  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of  the 
most  high  God  ?  art  thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  be- 
fore the  time  ?    I  beseech  thee,  I  adjure  thee  by  God, 


136  HASHONY    OF    THE 

that  thou  torment  me  not.  (For  he  had  commanded  the 
unclean  spirit  to  come  out  of  the  man.)  And  Jesus  ask- 
ed him,  saying,  What  is  thy  name  ?  and  he  answered, 
saying,  My  name  is  Legion,  for  we  are  many.  Because 
many  devils  were  entered  into  him.  And  they  besought 
him  much,  that  he  would  not  send  them  away  out  of  the 
country,  and  that  he  would  not  command  them  to  go 
out  into  the  deep.  Now  there  was  there,  a  good  way 
off  from  them,  nigh  unto  the  mountains,  a  great  herd  of 
swine  feeding.  And  all  the  devils  besought  him,  say- 
ing, If  thou  cast  us  out,  suffer  us  to  go  away  into  the 
herd  of  swine,  that  we  may  enter  into  them.  And  forth- 
with Jesus  gave  them  leave,  and  said  unto  them.  Go. 
And  the  unclean  spirits  went  out,  and  entered  into  the 
swine.  And  behold  the  whole  herd  of  swine  ran  vio- 
lently down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea,  (they  were  about 
two  thousand,)  and  perished  in  the  waters.  And  when 
they  that  fed  the  swine  saw  what  was  done,  they  fled, 
and  went  their  ways  into  the  city,  and  told  every  thing 
in  the  city,  and  in  the  country,  and  what  was  befallen  to 
the  possessed  of  the  devils.  And  behold  the  whole  city 
came  out  to  meet  Jesus,  and  to  see  what  it  was  that  was 
done.  And  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  found  the  man  out 
of  whom  the  devils  were  departed,  and  saw  him  that  had 
the  legion,  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  his 
right  mind  :  and  they  were  afraid.  And  they  that  saw 
it  told  them  by  what  means  he  that  was  possessed  of  the 
devils  was  healed,  and  also  concerning  the  swine.  Then 
the  whole  multitude  of  the  country  of  the  Gadarenes 
round  about  besought  him  to  depart  from  them,  and  out 
of  their  coasts  ;  for  they  were  taken  with  great  fear. — 
And  he  went  up  into  the  ship.  And  when  he  was  come 
into  the  ship,  the  man  out  of  whom  the  devils  were  de- 
parted, besought  him  that  he  might  be  with  him.  How- 
laeit  Jesus  suffered  him  not,  but  sent  him  away,  saying, 
Return  to  thine  own  house,  and  to  thy  friends,  and  tell 
them  how  great  things  God  hath  done  for  thee,  and 
hath  had  compassion  on  thee.  And  he  departed,  ancf 
went  his  way,  and  began  to  publish  throughout  the  whole 


FOVk    GOSPELS.  137 

city,  and  in  Dccapolis,  how  great  things  Jesus  had  done 
for  him  ;  and  all  men  did  marvel. 

And  he  entered  into  a  ship,  and  passed  over  again 
unto  the  other  side,  and  much  people  gathered  unto 
him,  and  gladly  received  him,  for  they  were  all  waiting 
for  him,  and  he  was  nigh  unto  the  sea. 


From  the  remarkable  story  which  is  here  before  us,  we  must 
surely  see  the  most  apparent  reason  to  adore  the  good  providence 
of  God,  which  restrains  the  malignant  spirits  of  hell  from  spread- 
ing those  desolations  among  beasts  and  we/i,  which  would  other- 
wise quickly  turn  the  earth  into  a  wilderness,  or  rather  into  a 
chaos.  But  what  matter  of  joy  is  it  to  reflect,  that  all  their  fury 
and  rage  is  under  a  Divine  controul,  and  that  they  cannot  hurt 
even  the  meanest  animal  without  permission  fiom  above  ! 

The  unhappy  creature,  whose  state  is  here  described  in  such 
lively  colours,  is  an  affecting  emblem  of  those  who  are  in  a  spiri- 
tual sense  under  the  power  of  Satan.  Thus  do  {hey  break  asun- 
der the  bonds  of  reason  and  gratitude,  and  sometimes  of  authoiity 
and  even  of  shame  ;  and,  thus  dtiven  on  by  the  frenzy  of  their 
lusts  and  passions,  they  are  so  outrageous  as  to  injure  others  and 
to  wound  themselves.  Human  attempts  to  moderate  and  reform 
them  may  be  vain  ;  but  let  us  remember  that  the  Almighty  Saviour 
has  a«oice,  which  can  put  this  woist  kind  of  dcTTions  to  flight,  and 
restore  those  that  have  been  agitated  by  them  to  their  right  mind, 
so  as  to  place  them  at  his  feet  in  holy  composure^  and  in  calm 
rational  attention. 

We  see  here  a  legion  of  devils  trembling  before  the  Son  of  God^ 
confessing  his  supeiior  power,  howling  as  it  were  in  their  chains, 
and  entreating  the  delay  of  their  torments.  And  can  humAn pride 
stand  before  him,  and  rebellious  mortals  triumph  over  him  ?  Happy 
souls,  that  are  listed  under  his  banners!  They  shall  share  the 
victories  of  the  great  Captain  of  their  salvation,  and  the  God  of 
peace  shall  bruise  Satan  under  their  feet  shortly.  (  Rom.  xvi.  20.) 

But  oh,  how  stupid  and  how  wretched  were  these  Gadarenes 
who  preferred  their  swine  to  their  souls,  and  besought  him  to  de- 
part out  of  their  coasts,  whose  presence  was  their  defence  and 
iheU glory!  May  Divine  grace  preserve  us  from  a  temper  like 
theirs!  And  may  those  of  us,  who  have  ourselves  experienced 
the  restoring  power  of  Christ  and  his  gospel,  be  engaged  to  ad- 
here to  our  great  Benefactor  and  gratefully  to  devote  those  pow- 
ers to  his  service,  which  he  has  lescued  from  dishonour,  mischief, 
and  ruin. 

13* 


138  HABHONT    OF   THB 

SECTION  XXVL 

Matt.  ix.  17. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Jesus  sat  at  meat  in  the  house, 
behold,  many  publicans  and  sinners  came  and  sat  down 
with  him  and  his  disciples.  And  when  the  Pharisees 
saw  itf  they  said  unto  his  disciples.  Why  eateth  your 
Master  with  publicans  and  sinners  ?  But  when  Jesus 
heard  that,  he  said  unto  them,  They  that  be  whole  need 
not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick  ;  but  go  ye  and 
learn  what  that  meaneth,  I  will  have  mercy,  and  not  sa- 
crifice :  for  I  am  not  come  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sin- 
ners to  repentance. 

Then  came  to  him  the  disciples  of  John,  saying,  why 
do  we  and  the  Pharisees  fast  oft,  but  thy  disciples  fast 
not  ?  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Can  the  children  of  the 
bride-chamber  mourn,  as  long  as  the  bridegroom  is  with 
them  ?  but  the  days  will  come,  when  the  bridegroom 
shall  be  taken  from  them,  and  then  shall  they  fast.  No 
man  putteth  a  piece  of  new  cloth  unto  an  old  garment, 
for  that  which  is  put  in  to  fill  it  up  taketa  from  the  gar- 
ment, and  the  rent  is  made  worse.  Neither  do  men  put 
new  wine  into  old  bottles  :  else  the  bottles  break,  and 
the  wine  runneth  out,  and  the  bottles  perish  :  but  they 
put  new  wine  into  new  bottles,  and  both  are  preserved. 

Compassionate  Redeemer  !  thou  didst,  as  the  great  Physician 
of  souls f  willingly  converse  with  objects  that  must  have  been 
most  hateful  to  thy  pure  and  holy  nature !  May  we,  each  of  us, 
have  a  due  sense  of  the  malignity  ofsin^  that  fatal  disease  of  the 
soul,  that  we  may  with  a  becoming  temper  apply  to  Christ  for  a 
cure.'  May  we  also,  like  him,  be  willing  to  condescend  to  the 
meanest  and  vilest,  if  it  may  be  the  means  of  winning  them  over 
to  true  religion  and  happiness  !  ever  preferring  mercy  to  sacrifice, 
and  choosing  rather  to  govern  ourselves  by  the  dictates  of  a  bene- 
volent heart  than  by  the  maxims  of  proud  and  censorious  men.  .,•.- 

Christ  would  not  discourage  his  disciples  by  over-rigorous  in- 
stitutions: and  it  is  unfit  that  his  religion  should  be  burdened 
with  them.     He  suits  the  duties  of  hia  people  to  their  circum- 


FOUB    GOSPELS.  139 

atances,  and  kindly  proportions  their  work  to  their  strength,  with 
a  tender  regard  to  their  weakness,  till  by  degrees  they  may  he 
fitted  for  the  more  difficult  and  humbling  services. 


SECTION  XXVII. 

Matt.  ix.  18—34.      Mark  v.  22—43. 
Luke  viii.  41 — 66. 

While  he  spake  these  things  unto  them,  behold,  there 
came  a  man  named  Jairns,  and  he  was  one  of  the  rulera 
of  the  synagogue,  and  when  he  saw  him,  he  fell  down  at 
Jesus'  feet  and- worshipped  him,  and  besought  him  great- 
ly that  he  would  come  into  his  house,  for  he  had  one 
only  daughter  about  twelve  years  of  age,  and  she  lay  a 
dying.  And  he  besought  him,  saying,  My  little  daughter 
lieth  at  the  point  of  death,  I  pray  thee  come  and  lay  thy 
hands  upon  her,  that  she  may  be  healed,  and  she  shall 
live.  And  Jesus  arose  and  followed  him,  and  so  did  his 
disciples.  But  as  he  went,  much  people  followed  him, 
and  thronged  him.  And,  behold,  a  certain  woman  which 
was  diseased  with  an  issue  of  blood  twelve  years,  and 
had  suffered  many  things  of  many  physicians,  and  had 
spent  all  her  hving  upon  physicians,  neither  could  be 
healed  of  any,  and  was  nothing  bettered,  but  rather  grew 
worse,  when  she  had  heard  of  Jesus,  came  in  the  press 
behind  him,  and  touched  the  border  of  his  garment.  For 
she  said  within  herself,  if  I  may  but  touch  his  garment, 
I  shall  be  whole.  And  straightway  the  fountain  of  her 
blood  was  dried  up  ;  and  she  felt  in  her  body  that  she 
was  healed  of  that  plague.  And  Jesus,  immediately 
knowing  in  himself  that  virtue  had  gone  out  of  him,  turn- 
ed him  about  in  the  press,  and  said.  Who  touched  my 
clothes  ?  When  all  denied,  Peter  and  they  that  were 
with  him  said  unto  him.  Master,  thou  seest  the  multitude 
throng  thee  and  press  thee,  and  sayest  thou,  Who  touch- 
ed me  ?  And  Jesus  said,  Somebody  hath  touched  me  : 
for  I  perceive  that  virtue  is  gone  out  of  me.  And  he 
looked  round  about  to  see  her  that  had  done  this  thing. 


140  HARMONY   OF   THB 

And  when  the  woman  saw  that  she  was  not  hid,  «he 
came  fearing  and  trembling,  knowing  what  was  done  in 
her,  and  fell  down  before  him,  and  told  him  all  the  truth  ; 
and  declared  unto  him  before  all  the  people,  for  what 
case  she  had  touched  him,  and  how  she  was  healed  im- 
mediately. And  when  he  saw  her,  he  said  unto  her, 
Daughter,  be  of  good  comfort,  thy  faith  hath  made  thee 
whole  ;  go  in  peace,  and  be  whole  of  thy  plague.  And 
the  woman  was  made  whole  from  that  hour. 

While  he  yet  spake,  there  came  from  the  ruler  of  the 
synagogue's  hou.tp.  certain  which  said  to  him,  Thy  daugh- 
ter is  dead,  why  troublest  thou  the  Master  any  further  ? 
But  as  soon  as  Jesus  heard  the  word  that  was  spoken^ 
he  answered  and  said  unto  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue, 
Be  not  afraid,  only  believe,  and  she  shall  be  made  whole. 
And  when  he  came  into  the  house  of  the  ruler  of  the 
synagogue,  he  suffered  no  man  to  go  in,  save  Peter,  and 
James,  and  John  the  brother  of  James,  and  the  father 
and  the  mother  of  the  maiden.  And  when  he  saw  the 
minstrels,  and  the  tumult,  and  the  people  making  a 
noise,  and  them  that  wept  and  wailed  greatly,  he  saith 
unto  them.  Why  make  ye  this  ado,  and  weep  ?  Give 
place,  and  weej)  not,  for  the  maid  is  not  dead,  but  sleep- 
eth.  And  they  laughed  him  to  scorn,  knowing  that  she 
was  dead.  But  when  he  had  put  them  all  out,  he  taketh 
the  father  and  the  mother  of  the  damsel,  and  them  that 
were  with  him,  and  entereth  in  where  the  damsel  was 
lying.  And  he  took  the  damsel  by  the  hand,  and  said 
unto  her,  Talitha  cumi,  which  is,  being  interpreted, 
Damsel,  (I  say  unto  thee)  arise.  And  her  spirit  came 
again,  and  she  arose  straightway,  and  walked :  and  he 
commanded  that  something  should  be  given  her  to  eat. 
And  her  parents  were  astonished  with  a  great  astonish- 
ment. And  he  charged  them  straitly,  that  they  should 
tell  no  man  what  was  done.  And  the  fame  thereof  went 
abroad  into  all  that  land. 


FOUB    OOSPEL9.  141 


Matthew  ix.  27 — 34. 


AnD  when  Jesus  departed  thence,  two  blind  men  fol- 
lowed him,  crying,  and  saying,  Thau  Son  of  David  have 
mercy  on  us.  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house 
the  blind  men  came  to  him  ;  and  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ?  They  said  unto 
him,  Yea,  Lord.  Then  touched  he  their  eyes,  saying, 
According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you.  And  their  eyes 
were  opened,  and  Jesus  straitly  charged  them,  saying. 
See  that  no  man  know  it.  But  they,  when  they  were 
departed,  spread  abroad  his  fame  in  all  that  country. 

And  as  they  went  out,  behold,  they  brought  to  him  a 
dumb  man  possessed  with  a  devil.  And  when  the  devil 
was  cast  out,  the  dumb  spake.  And  the  multitude  mar- 
velled, saying.  It  was  never  so  seen  in  Israel.  But  the 
Pharisees  said,  He  casteth  out  devils  through  Beelzebub 
the  prince  of  the  devils. 


We  have  here  a  scene  of  complicated  wonders,  worthy  to  be 
had  in  everlasting  remembrance.  Any  single  story  of  this  kind 
might  justly  move  our  admiration  ;  but  when  we  are  reading  the 
life  of  Christ,  such  a  constellation  of  miracles  rises,  that  the  num- 
ber renders  us  less  sensible  of  the  lustre  and  glory  of  each. 

We  may  observe  in  the  story  of  the  distempered  woman  a  mix- 
ture o(  weakness  and  oi faith.  She  could  not  reasonably  think  to 
steal  a  cure,  without  the  knowledge  of  him  by  whom  it  was 
wrought;  or  imagine  a  charm  in  the  garment  that  Christ  wore, 
which  could  produce  so  glorious  an  effect,  independent  of  hi» 
agency  and  will.  Yet  she  acted  as  if  she  had  thought  thus;  and 
a  compassionate  Redeemer  commended  her  faith,  and  excused 
her  infirmity.  Such  candour  should  we  exercise  towards  those  in 
whom  we  find  any  thing  truly  valuable  ;  not  despising  the  day  €f 
small  things^  but  ready  to  encourage  and  support  the  weak,  and  to 
commend  whatever  good  we  may  discover  in  them. 

We  have  already  beheld  Christ  frequently  giving  sight  to  the 
blind,  and  casting  out  evil  spirits  ;  but  we  have  here  a  second  in- 
stance  of  his  power  over  death,  and  behold  one  under  its  dominion 
hearing  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God!  In  how  majestic,  and  yet 
in  how  gentle  a  manner,  does  he  address  himself  to  this  admirable 
woric !     Damsel,  I  say  unto  thee.  Arise,    And  immediately  sh« 


142  HABMONY    OP    THE 

heard  and  obeyed.  Thus  shall  he,  with  equal  ease,  call  forth  my- 
riads of  his  saints,  who  now  seem  perished  in  the  dust :  and  it 
may  be  said  with  regard  1o  them  also,  in  reference  to  that  day. 
They  are  not  dead,  but  sleep.  The  7naiden,  of  whom  we  here 
read,  arose  only  to  a  dying  life  ;  a  life  which  needed  the  support 
of  /bod,  and  was  in  no  respect  more  noble  or  more  secure  than 
that  of  other  mortals  ;  but  we  look  for  a  better  resurrection,  in 
which  all  the  in6rniities  of  the  body  shall  be  left  behind  in  the 
grave ;  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor 
crying.     (Rev.  xxi.  4.) 

In  expectation  of  this,  let  us  restrain  immoderate  sorrow  when 
our  pious  friends  are  taken  away :  let  us  not  make  too  much  ado 
on  the  occasion,  nor  allow  ouiselves  to  be  thrown  into  a  tumult  of 
passion,  even  when  our  children  are  stretched  on  the  bed  of  death,' 
but  believing  in  Christ,  and  governing  ourselves  by  his  precepts 
and  maxims,  let  us  in  humble  resignation,  and  submissive, though 
mournful  silence,  wait  the  issues  of  his  providence  and  grace  ; 
since  he  knows  how,  as  in  this  instance,  to  over-rule  the  calami- 
ties of  our  families  to  the  good  of  our  souls,  and  even  to  strengthen 
our  faith  by  those  exercises,  which  might  seem  most  likely  to 
overthrow  it. 


SECTION  xxviir. 

Matt.  xiii.  54—58,  ix.  35 — 38.  Markvi.  1 — 6. 

And  he  went  out  from  thence,  and  came  into  his  own 
country  ;  and  his  disciples  follow  him.  And  when  the 
sabbath-day  was  come,  he  be^an  to  teach  in  the  syna- 
gogue :  and  many  hearing  him  were  astonished,  and 
said.  From  whence  hath  this  man  these  things  ?  and 
what  wisdom  is  this  which  is  given  unto  him,  that  even 
such  mighty  works  are  wrought  by  his  hands  ?  Is  not 
tliis  the  carpenter's  son  ?  Is  not  his  mother  called  Mary? 
and  his  brethren,  James,  and  Joses,  and  Simon,  and 
Judas  ?  And  his  sisters,  are  they  not  all  here  with  us  ? 
Whence  then  hath  this  man  all  these  things  ?  And  they 
were  offended  in  him.  But  Jesus  said  unto  them,  A 
prophet  is  not  without  honour,  save  in  his  own  country, 
and  among  his  own  kin,  and  in  his  own  house.  And  he 
could  do  there  no  mighty  works  because  of  their  unbe- 


POUR    GOSPELS.  143 

lief,  save  that  he  laid  his  hands  on  a  few  sick  folk,  and 
healed  them.  And  he  marvelled  because  of  their  unbe- 
lief. 

And  he  went  round  about  all  the  cities  and  villages, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  every  sickness,  and  every 
disease  among  the  people.  But  when  he  saw  the  mul- 
titudes, he  was  moved  with  compassion  on  them,  because 
they  fainted,  and  were  scattered  abroad  as  sheep  having 
no  sheplierd.  Then  saith  he  unto  his  disciples,  The  har- 
vest truly  is  plenteous,  but  the  labourers  are  few.  Pray 
ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will  send 
forth  labourers  into  his  harvest. 

Since  the  blessed  Jesus  vouchsafed  iorenew  his  visit  to  Naza- 
reth^ where  they  had  attempted  to  murder  him  on  his  first 
preaching  among;  them,  let  us  not  be  rceary  of  u-elt-doivg,  nor 
refuse  to  renew  our  attempts  on  the  most  obstinate  sinners,  where 
the  interests  of  their  immortal  souls  are  concerned. 

But  though  they  were  astonisfied  at  his  wisdom^  and  could  not 
but  allow  the  mighty  works  that  he  had  wrought ;  yet  these  un- 
grateful creatures  went  on  to  reject  him,  and  in  so  doing  were 
condemned  out  of  their  own  mouth  :  nor  can  we  be  at  any  loss 
for  instances  of  those  who  in  later  ages  have  fallen  under  the 
like  condemnation. 

He  is  spoken  of  as  the  carpenter;  which  intimates  that  he 
OBce  wrought  at  that  mean  employment.  What  amazing  con- 
descension was  this  in  the  Hon  of  God^  and  the  Heir  of  all  things, 
by  whom  also  the  worlds  were  7nade  I  (Heb.  i.  2.)  Yet  surely  while 
the  hands  of  Christ  were  employed  in  these  daily  labours,  his 
soul  was  rising  in  holy  contemplations  and  devout  affections.  So 
may  we  intermingle  pious  meditations  with  our  secular  cares^ 
and  have  our  conversation  in  heaven,  while  our  dwelling  is  on 
earth .' 

How  much  did  these  Nazarenes  lose  by  their  obstinate  preju- 
dices against  Jesus!  How  many  diseased  bodies  might  have 
been  cured,  how  many  lost  souls  might  have  been  recovered  and 
saved,  had  they  given  him  a  better  reception !  May  Divine 
Gra<:e  deliver  us  from  that  unbelief  which  does  as  it  were  dis- 
arm Christ  himself,  and  render  him  a  savour  of  death,  rather  than 
of  life  to  our  souls! 

Still  he  continued  his  gracious  labours,  and,  when  rejected  in 
one  city^  went  and  preached  in  another  ;  still  surrounded  with  a 
crowd  of  admirers,  whom  he  viewed  with  tender  regard.    Let 


144  HARMONT    OF   THE 

his  ministers  learn  of  him,  tenderly  to  pity  those,  who  are  faint 
and  exposed  to  danger,  and  &re  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  The 
extreme  necessities  of  his  churches  in  many  places  are  but  too 
apparent :  let  us  earnestly  pray,  that  God  would  behold  them 
with  compassion;  that  he  would  graciously  provide  for  their 
instruction,  and  would  thrust  forth  such  labourers  among  them 
as  may  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  their  work,  and  prove  the 
happy  instruments  of  ga/^enng-  in  fruit  to  everlasting  life.  (John 
iv.  36.) 

SECTION  XXIX. 
Matt.  X.  1 — 15.  Mark  vi.  7 — 11.  Luke  ix.  1 — ^5. 

And  when  he  had  called  unto  himjhis  twelve  disciples, 
he  gave  them  power  against  unclean  spirits,  to  cast 
them  out,  and  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness  and  all 
manner  of  disease. 

These  twelve,  Jesus  called  unto  him,  and  began  to 
send  them  forth  by  two  and  two,  and  commanded  them, 
saying,  Go  not  into  the  way  of  the  Gentiles,  and  into 
any  city  of  the  Samaritans  enter  ye  not.  But  go  rather 
to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel.  And  as  ye  go, 
preach,  saying.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand  Heal 
the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  de- 
vils :  freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.  Provide  nei- 
ther gold  nor  silver,  nor  brass  in  your  purses,  and  take 
nothing  for  your  j  Durney,  save  a  staff  only  :  No  scrip,  no 
bread,  neither  shoes,  neither  have  two  coats  apiece.  For 
the  workman  is  worthy  of  his  meat.  And  into  whatso- 
ever city  or  town  ye  shall  enter,  inquire  who  in  it  is 
worthy  :  and  there  abide  till  you  go  thence.  And  when 
ye  come  into  an  house,  salute  it ;  and  if  the  house  be 
worthy,  let  your  peace  come  upon  it :  but  if  it  be  not 
worthy,  let  your  peace  return  to  you.  And  whosoever 
shall  not  receive  you,  nor  hear  yoor  words,  when  ye  de- 
part out  of  that  house  or  city,  shake  off  the  very  dust 
from  under  your  feet  for  a  testimony  against  them.  Ve- 
rily, I  say  unto  you.  It  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  the 
land  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha  in  the  day  of  judgmenti 
than  for  that  city. 


FOUIt    GOSPELS.  145 

What  abundant  reason  is  there  for  humble  thankfulness  that 
the  ambassadors  of  Christ  were  thus  sent  forth  tu  preach  the  gos- 
pel, and  that  at  length  their  number  was  increased,  and  their 
commission  enlarged  ;  so  that  instead  of  their  being  thus  confi- 
ned to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel,  their  instructive  line 
is  gone  out  through  all  the  earth,  arcd  their  words  have  resounded 
even  to  the  end  of  the  world !  (Psalm  xix.  4.)  May  the  purport 
of  their  message  be  seriously  attended  to  !  since  it  will  so  cer- 
tainly be  a  savour  of  life  or  of  death,  of  eternal  salvation  or  ag- 
gravated condemnation  and  ruin. 

Let  us  tremble  to  think,  that  it  icill  be  more  tolerable  for  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  in  the  day  of  judgment  than  for  those  by  whom 
the  gospel  is  rejected :  and  let  us  earnestly  pray  that  Divine 
Grace  may  enable  us  to  receive  it  in  the  love  of  it,  and  to  obey 
the  truth,  that  we  may  be  saved.  (2  Thess.  ii.  10.) 

They  who  have  the  honour  in  this  respect  to  succeed  the 
apostles  as  ministers  of  this  gospel  may  learn  most  useful  instruc- 
tions from  this  discourse  of  our  Divine  Master.  Let  them  speak 
and  act  as  the  messengers  of  peace  and  the  friends  of  mankind, 
who  cordially  wish  well  to  all  around  them  ;  and  gratefullj- 
acknowledge  the  kindness  which,  as  faithful  labourers,  they 
have  justly  deserved.  Let  them  shew  a  true  greatness  of  mind 
in  an  apparentsuperiorily  to  temporal  interests  and  present  grati- 
fications; easy  in  whatever  accommodations  they  find  where 
Providence  leads  them  ;  and  forgetting  themselves,  to  remember 
their  Master,  and  ihe  souls  he  has  committed  to  their  care. 

Let  them  faithfully  warn  all  around  them  of  the  importance 
of  their  e/erna/  concerns,  and  of  the  unutterable  danger  of  receiv- 
ing the  grace  of  God  in  vain,  that  whether  men  will  hear  or  for- 
bear, they  may  be  clean  from  their  blood.  And,  while  we 
preserve  such  a  temper  and  conduct,  we  may  cheerfully  hope 
that  God  will  be  with  us  in  the  way  that  we  go,  and  how  preca- 
rious soever  our  circumstances  may  seem,  will  give  us  food  to 
eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on.  May  we  all  have  this  token  for  good., 
that  God  will  take  care  of  our  interests ;  even  the  consciousness 
of  our  being  faithfully  engaged  to  promote  his  glory,  and  our 
joyful  readiness  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  the  service  of  seuls  1 
(2Cor.  xii.  15.) 

SECTION  XXX 

Matthew  x.    16 — 31. 

Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of 
wolves  ;  be  ye  therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless 
as  doves.     But  beware  of  men  :  for  thev  will  deliver 

14 


146  HARMOINY    OF   THE 

you  up  to  the  councils,  and  they  will  scourge  you  in 
their  synagogues.  And  ye  shall  be  brought  before  go- 
vernors and  kings  for  my  sake,  for  a  testimony  against 
them  and  the  Gentiles.  But  when  they  deliver  you  up, 
take  no  thought  how  or  what  ye  shall  speak  :  for  it  shall 
be  given  you  in  that  same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.  For 
it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father 
which  speaketh  in  you. 

And  the  brother  shall  deliver  up  the  brother  to  death, 
and  the  father  the  child  :  and  the  children  shall  rise 
up  against  their  parents,  and  cause  them  to  be  put  to 
death.  And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my  name's 
sake  :  but  he  that  endureth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved. 
But  when  they  persecute  you  in  this  city,  flee  ye  into 
another  :  for  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Ye  shall  not  have 
gone  over  the  cities  of  Israel,  till  the  Son  of  man  be 
come. 

The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master,  nor  the  servant 
above  his  Lord.  It  is  enough  for  the  disciple  that  he 
be  as  his  master,  and  the  servant  as  his  Lord  :  if  they 
have  called  the  master  of  the  house  Beelzebub,  how 
much  more  shall  they  call  ihem  of  his  household  ?  Fear 
them  not  therefore  :  for  there  is  nothing  covered, 
that  shall  not  be  revealed,  and  hid,  that  shall  not  be 
known.  What  I  tell  you  in  darkness,  that  speak  ye 
in  lio-ht,  and  what  ye  hear  in  the  ear,  that  preach  ye  up- 
on the  house-tops.  And  fear  not  them  which  will  kill 
the  body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul :  but  rather 
fear  him  which  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in 
hell.  Are  not  two  sparrows  sold  for  a  farthing  ?  and 
one  of  them  shall  not  fall  on  the  ground  without  your 
Father.  But  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  num- 
bered. Fear  ye  not  therefore  ;  ye  are  of  more  value 
than  many  sparrows. 

How  apparently  fit  is  it,  that  this  eternal  and  almighty  God 
should  be  the  object  of  our  humble /ear,  and  that  in  compari- 
son with  him  we  should  fear  nothing  else  !  All  the  terrors  of 
the  world  are  disarmed  by  this ;  and  by  this  are  iU  fiaiteries  also 
disarmed.     In  whatever  stations  of  life  we  are  fixed,  let  this 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  147 

engage  us  to  be  faithful  to  God  ia  them :  so  shall  we  be  most 
truly  faithful  to  ourselves  ! 

The  apostles  were  exposed  to  peculiar  dangers  and  trials ;  but 
all  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  must  expect  some  degree 
oi  persecution,  (2  Tim.  iii,  12,)  let  us  therefore  arm  ourselves 
with  the  same  mind,  that  we  may  bear  it  with  a  truly  Christian 
fortitude.  May  Divine  grace  teach  us  to  mingle  the  wisdom  of 
the  serpent  with  the  innocence  of  the  dovt,  and  to  shelter  our- 
selves from  the  ill  usage  of  a  perverse  and  sinful  generation,  so 
far  only  as  we  can  do  it  without  oflfering  any  violation  to  our  con- 
sciences ! 

It  is  indeed  matter  of  great  lamentation,  that  the  sentiments 
o( benevolence  and  goodness  which  seem  so  natural  to  the  human 
mind,  and  are  always  so  ornamental  and  delightful,  should  pre- 
vail no  more  :  and  it  is  shameful  that  the  nayne  of  religion,  so 
well  calculated  to  cultivate  these  sentiments,  should  be  made 
use  of  as  an  engine  to  destroy  them  ;  and  instead  of  cementing 
kingdoms  and  families  in  closer  and  more  affectionate  bond*, 
should  inspire  them  even  with  mortal  animosity.  Let  us  bless 
God  for  our  public  liberties;  and  earnestly  pray,  that  where 
persecution  reigns  in  its  utmost  terror,  the  wrath  of  man  may 
praise  him,  and  the  remainder  of  that  wrath  be  restrained! 
(P^alm  Ixxvi.  10.) 

The  ill  usage  which  the  blessed  Jesus  endured  from  an  un- 
grateful world,  may  surely  prevent  our  being  surprised  or  offen- 
ded, if  we  meet  with  some  share  of  it  too.  May  we  be  willing 
to  suffer  with  him,  that  we  may  at  length  reign  with  him!  (2  Tim. 
ii.  12.)  And  if  by  unexpected  revolutions  in  providence  we 
?hould  bo  called  out  to  the  severest  trials,  may  the  spirit  of  glo- 
ry and  of  God  rest  upon  us  !  and  may  we  not  account  even  our 
lives  dear  unto  us.  that  approving  our  fidelity  to  him,  we  may 
Jinish  our  course  with  joy  .'  (1  Pet.  iv.  14,  and  Acts  xx.  24.) 


SECTION  XXXI. 

Matt.  x.  32  ;  xi.  1.     Mark  vi.  12,  13.     Luke  ix.  6. 

Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess  me  before  men, 
him  will  I  confess  also  before  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  But  whosoever  shall  deny  me  before  men, 
him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  send  peace  on 
earth  :  I  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a  sword.     For 


J  48  HARMONY    OF   THE 

I  am  come  to  set  a  man  at  variance  against  his  father, 
and  the  daughter  against  her  mother,  and  the  daughter- 
in-law  against  her  mother-in-law.  And  a  man's  foes 
shall  be  they  of  his  own  househould.  He  that  loveth 
father  or  mother  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me  : 
and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me,  is  not 
worthy  of  me.  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross, 
and  followeth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me.  He  that 
findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it  :  and  he  that  loseth  his  life 
for  my  sake,  shall  find  it.  He  that  receiveth  you, 
receiveth  me :  and  he  that  receiveth  me,  receiveth  him 
that  sent  me.  He  that  receiveth  a  prophet  in  the  name 
of  a  prophet,  s^hall  receive  a  prophet's  reward  ;  and  he 
that  receiveth  a  righteous  man  in  the  name  of  a  right- 
eous man,  shall  receive  a  righteous  man's  reward. 
And  whosoever  shall  give  to  drink  unto  one  of  these 
little  ones  a  cup  of  cold  loater  only,  in  the  name  of  a 
disciple,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose 
his  reward. 


Matt.   xi.    1.    Mark  vi.    12,   13.     Luke  ix.  6. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had  made  an  end 
of  consmanding  his  twelve  disciples,  he  departed  thence 
to  teach  and  preach  in  their  cities.  And  they  depar- 
ted and  went  through  the  towns,  preaching  the  gospel, 
and  that  men  should  repent.  And  they  cast  out  many 
devils,  and  anointed  with  oil  many  that  were  sick,  and 
healed  every  where.  ^ 

Justly  may  the  blessed  Jesus  set  so  high  a  value  on  himself, 
and  on  the  blessings  of  his  grace:  justly  may  he  insist  upon  our 
readiness  to  abandon  nil  for  /iim,  who  is  so  just  an  equivalent 
for  all.  May  his  grace  teach  us  to  love  him  more  than  the  dear- 
est of  our  relations,  and  even  to  be  ready/or  his  sake  to  sacrifice 
our  lives!  May  it  make  us  willing  to  take  up  and  bear  any 
cross  for  him,  who  bore  his  cross  and  expired  upon  it  for  us ! 

The  gospel  has  indeed  been  the  occasion  of  much  contention 
und  persecution,  not  only  in  Judea  but  elsewhere:  yet  let  us 
not  charge  it  upon  any  malignity,  or  any  deficiency  in  that,  but 


FOUB    GOSPELS.  149 

on  the  lusts  and  corruptions  of  men,  who  have  either  directly 
opposed  or  grossly  perverted  it.  Let  us  endeavour  to  arm  our- 
selves wiih  courage  to  encounter,  and  reaoIuLion  to  endure, 
whatever  •persecutions  or  injuries  our  adherence  to  it  may  cost 
us ;  ever  confiding  in  that  gracious  Providence  which  extends 
itself  even  to  the  meanest  creatures:  reposing  ourselves  on  the 
support  of  Divine  consolations,  and  esteeming  ourselves  happy, 
even  in  losing  our  lives  in  this  world,  if  we  oidLy  Jind  them  iu 
that  which  is  everlasting. 

In  the  mean  time,  may  this  excellent  discourse  ol  our  blessed 
Redeemer  ammviie  us  to  every  work  of  faith,  and  eyerj  labour  of 
love!  Let  not  the  poorest  be  discouraged  from  some  charitable 
attempt  for  the  good  of  others :  since  tbe  munificence  of  our 
heavenly  Master  will  remember  even  a  cup  of  cold  water  given 
to  the  least  of  his  servants  under  that  character.  Yet  since  there 
will  be  such  a  variety  of  rewards  proportionable  to  diff"erent  de- 
grees of  liberality  and  zeal,  let  us  indulge  a  generous  ambition 
o(  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  that  we  may  shine  with 
distinguished  glory  in  the  day  of  retribution,  and  havean  abun- 
dant entrance  into  his  kingdom. 

SECTION  XXXII. 

Matt.   xiv.    1 — 12.     Mark   vi.    14 — 29.    Luke  ix. 

7—9. 

At  that  time  king  Herod  the  tetrarch  heard  of  the 
fame  of  Jesus,  and  of  all  that  was  done  by  him,  (for  his 
name  was  spread  abroad :)  and  he  was  perplexed, 
because  that  it  was  said  of  some,  that  John  the  Baptist 
was  risen  from  tlie  dead,  and  therefore  mighty  works  do 
shew  forth  themselves  in  him  ;  and  of  some,  that  Elias 
had  appeared  ;  and  of  others,  that  it  is  a  prophet,  or  one 
of  the  prophets.  And  Herod  said  unto  his  servants, 
John  have  I  beheaded  :  but  who  is  this,  of  whom  I  hear 
such  things  ?  This  is  John  the  Baptist ;  he  is  risen  from 
the  dead  ;  and  therefore  mighty  works  do  shew  forth 
themselves?  in  him  :  and  he  desired  to  see  him. 

For  Herod  himself  had  sent  forth,  and  laid  hold  upon 
John,  and  bound  him,  and  put  him  in  prison  for  Hera- 
dias'  sake,  his  brother  Plulip's  wife  ;  for  he  had  married 
her.     Foj  John  had  said  unto  Herod,  It  is  not  lawful 

14* 


150  HARMONY    OF   THE 

for  thee  to  have  thy  brother's  wife.  Therefore  Hero- 
dias  had  a  quarrel  against  him,  and  would  have  killed 
him,  but  she  could  not.  For  Herod  feared  John, 
knowing  that  he  was  a  just  man,  and  an  holy,  and  ob- 
served him  ;  and  when  he  heard  him,  he  did  many 
things,  and  heard  him  gladly.  And  when  he  would 
have  put  him  to  death,  he  feared  the  multitude,  because 
they  counted  him  as  a  prophet.  But  when  a  convenient 
day  was  come,  that  Herod  on  his  birth-day  made  a 
supper  to  his  lords,  high  captains,  and  chie[ estates  of 
Galilee,  and  when  the  daughter  of  the  said  Herodias 
came  in,  and  danced,  and  pleased  Herod  and  them  that 
sat  with  him,  the  king  said  unto  the  damsel.  Ask  of  me 
whatsoever  thou  wilt,  and  I  will  give  it  thee.  And  he 
sware  unto  her,  Whatsoever  thou  shalt  ask  of  me  I  will 
give  it  thee,  unto  the  half  of  my  kingdom.  And  she 
went  forthj  and  said  unto  her  mother,  What  shall  I  ask  ? 
And  she  said,  The  head  of  John  the  Baptist.  And  she 
came  in  straightway  with  haste  unto  the  king,  and  asked, 
saying,  I  will  that  thou  give  me  here  by  and  by  in  a 
charger  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist.  And  the  king 
was  exceeding  sorry  ;  yet  for  his  oath's  sake,  and  for 
their  sakes  which  sat  with  him  at  meat,  he  would  not 
reject  her,  but  commanded  it  to  be  given  her.  And 
immediately  the  king  sent  an  executioner,  and  comman- 
ded his  head  to  be  brought  :  and  he  went,  and  beheaded 
him  in  the  prison,  and  brought  his  head  in  a  charger, 
and  gave  it  to  the  damsel :  and  the  damsel  brought  it 
and  gave  it  to  her  mother.  And  when  bis  disciples 
heard  of  it,  they  came  and  took  up  his  corpse,  and  laid 
it  in  a  tomb  :  and  went  and  told  Jesus. 


How  dreadful  a  thing  is  it  to  have  a  guilty  and  accusing  con- 
science 1  and  how  remarkable  was  the  force  of  it  in  the  instance 
before  us !  Herod  was  a  king,  yet  it  addressed  him  in  language 
of  terror,  and  made  itself  heard  and  felt  amidst  all  the  hurries 
and  flatteries  of  a  court.  Vain  was  the  power  of  &  prince ;  vain 
the  caresses  of  a  favourite  mistress.^  basely  gratified  with  the 
blood  of  a  prophet ;  and  vain  the  yet  more  boasting  tenets  of  a 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  151 

Saddncee.  In  one  instance  at  least  a  resy,rre€tion  shall  be  believ- 
ed;  and  if  a  prophet  arise  in  Israel,  Herod  shall  be  among  the 
first  to  s.ay,  It  is  John  the  Baptist.,  risen  from  the  dead;  and 
shall  be  ready  to  forbode  the  sad  efiects  ol  his  recovered  life, 
and  to  prognosticate  evil  to  himself  from  the  mighty  works  he 
performed.  Let  us  make  it  our  care  to  preserve  a  conscience 
void  of  offence,  that  instead  of  a  continual  torment,  it  may  be  to 
us  a  continual  feast ! 

And  if  we  really  desire  to  preserve  it,  let  us  lake  heed  that 
we  be  not  excessively  transported  with  the  entertainments  of 
life,  or  rashly  enter  into  engagements  which  perhaps  may  plunge 
us  into  some  degree  of  guilt,  whether  they  be  performed  or 
violated. 

We  see,  in  this  dreadful  instance  of  Herodias,  what  an  im- 
placable degree  of  malice  may  arise  in  the  hearts  of  sinners  on 
being  re/7rorerf  for  the  most  scandalous  and  mischievous  vices. 
Insteadof  owning  the  obligationto  one  that  would  have  plucked 
her  as  a  brand  out  of  the  burning,  she  thirsts  insatiably  (or  his 
blood :  and  chooses  rather  to  indulge  her  cruelty  and  revenge  in 
taking  away  his  life,  than  to  gratify  her  avarice  and  ambitioa  in 
demanditig  a  gift  that  might  have  been  eqital  to  the  half  of  a 
kingdom. 

But  how  mysterious  was  that  providence,  which  left  the  life 
of  so  holy  a  man  in  such  infamous  hands,  and  permitted  it  to  be 
sacrificed  to  the  malice  of  an  abandoned  harlot,  to  the  petulancy 
of  a  vain  girl,  and  to  the  rashness  of  a  foolish  and  perhaps  an  in- 
toxicated ;;rmce,  who  made  the  propheCs  head  the  reward  of  a 
dance  !  The  ways  of  God  arc  unsearchable  !  but  we  are  sure  he 
can  never  be  at  a  loss  to  repay  his  servants  in  another  world  lor 
the  greatest  sufferings  they  endure  in  this,  and  even  for  life  itself, 
when  given  up  in  his  cause. 

We  may  reasonably  conclude,  that  death  could  never  be  an 
unseasonable  surprise  to  this  excellenl  saint.  When  the  execu- 
tioner came  into  the  prison  by  night,  perhaps  breaking  in  upon 
his  slumbers,  and  executed  his  bloody  commission  almost  as  soon 
as  he  declared  it,  a  soul  like  his  might  welcome  the  stroke,  as  the 
means  of  liberty  and  glory  ;  assured  that  the  transient  ag07iy  of 
a  moment  would  transmit  it  to  a  kingdom  where  the  least  of  its 
inhabitants  would  be  in  holiness,  honour,  and  felicity,  superior 
to  John  in  his  most  prosperous  and  successful  state  on  earth. 

His  enemies  might  for  a  while  insult  over  him,  while  his  dis- 
ciples were  mingling  their  tears  with  his  dust,  and  lamenting  the 
residue  of  his  days  cut  off' in  the  midst.  His  death  was  precious 
in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  was 
short.  So  will  he  ere  long  plead  the  cause  of  all  hi?  injured 
people,  and  give  a  cup  of  trembling  and  astonishment  to  those 


152  HARMONY   OF   THE 

that  have  made  themselves  drunk  with  their  blood.  Let  crxutty 
and  tyranny  do  their  worst,  verily  there  is  a  reward  for  the  righ' 
teoiu,  verily  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth.  (Psalm 
Iviii.  11.) 


SECTION  XXXIII. 

Matthew  xrv.  13 — 23.  Mask  vi.  30 — 46.  Lukb 
IX.  10 — 17.  John  vi.  1 — 15. 

The  apostles,  when  they  were  returned,  gathered  them- 
selves together  unto  Jesus,  and  told  him  all  things,  both 
what  they  had  done,  and  what  they  had  taught. 

And  when  Jesus  heard  of  itf  [that  Herod  had  heard 
of  his  fame,]  he  said  unto  them,  Come  ye  yourselves 
apart  into  a  desert  place,  and  rest  a  while :  for  there 
were  many  coming  and  going,  and  they  had  no  leisure 
so  much  as  to  eat.  And  he  took  them,  and  departed 
thence  by  ship,  and  went  over  the  sea  of  Galilee,  which 
is  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  and  went  aside  privately  into  a 
desert  place  belonging  to  the  city  called  Bethsaida. 
And  the  people  saw  them  departing,  and  many  knew 
him  and  ran  afoot  thither  out  of  all  cities,  and  outwent 
them.  And  a  great  multitude  followed  him,  because 
they  saw  his  miracles  which  he  did  on  them  that  were 
diseased.  And  Jesus  went  forth  [out  of  the  ship]  up 
into  a  mountain,  and  there  he  sat  with  his  disciples. — 
And  the  passover,  a  feast  of  the  Jews,  was  nigh.  When 
Jesus  then  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw  a  great  company 
come  unto  him,  he  was  moved  with  compassion  towards 
them,  because  they  were  as  sheep  not  having  a  shep- 
herd, and  he  received  them  ;  and  began  to  teach  them 
many  things,  and  spake  unto  them  of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  healed  them  that  had  need  of  healing.j 

And  when  the  day  was  now  far  spent,  his  disciples, 
the  twelve,  came  to  him,  saying,  This  is  a  desert,  and 
the  time  is  now  far  past,  send  the  multitude  away,  that 
they  may  go  into  the  towns  and  country  round  about, 
and  lodge,  and  buy  themselves  victuals ;  for  they  have 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  163 

nothing  to  eat.  But  Jesus  answered,  and  said  unto  them, 
They  need  not  depart,  give  ye  them  to  eat.  And  he 
saith  unto  Philip,  Whence  shall  we  buy  bread  that  these 
may  eat  ?  (And  this  he  said  to  prove  him  :  for  he  him- 
self knew  what  he  would  do.)  Phihp  answered  him. 
Two  hundred  penny-worth  of  bread  is  not  sutTicient  for 
them,  that  every  one  may  take  a  little.  And  his  disci- 
ples said  unto  him,  Shall  we  go  and  buy  two  hundred 
penny-worth  of  bread,  and  give  them  to  eat  ?  He  saith 
unto  them,  IIow  many  loaves  have  ye  ?  go  and  see.  And 
when  they  knew,  one  of  his  disciples,  Andrew,  Si- 
mon Peter's  brother,  saith  unto  him,  There  is  a  lad  here 
which  hath  five  barley  loaves,  and  two  small  fishes  ;  but 
what  are  they  among  so  many  ?  He  said,  Bring  them 
hither  to  me.  Now  there  was  much  grass  in  the  place. 
And  he  commanded  them  to  make  all  sit  down  by  com- 
panies on  the  green  grass.  And  they  did  so,  and  made 
them  all  sit  down.  x\^nd  they  sat  down  in  ranks  by  hun- 
dreds and  by  fifties  in  a  company.  Then  he  took  the 
five  loaves,  and  the  two  fishes,  and  looking  up  to  heaven, 
he  blessed  them,  and  brake  the  loaves,  and  gave  them  to 
his  disciples  to  set  before  the  multitude  ;  and  the  two 
fishes  he  divided  among  them  all,  as  much  as  they  would. 
And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  all  filled.  When  they 
were  filled,  he  said  unto  his  disciples,  Gather  up  the 
fragments  that  remain,  that  nothing  be  lost.  Therefore 
they  gathered  them  together,  and  filled  twelve  baskets 
with  the  fragments  of  the  five  barley  loaves,  and  of  the 
fishes,  which  remained  over  and  above  unto  them  that 
had  eaten.  And  they  that  had  eaten  were  about  five 
thousand  men,  beside  women  and  children.  Then  those 
men,  when  they  had  seen  the  miracle  that  Jesus  did, 
said,  This  is  of  a  truth  that  prophet  that  should  come 
into  the  world. 

And  straightway  Jesus  constained  his  disciples  to  get 
into  the  ship,  and  to  go  to  the  other  side  before  unto 
Bethsaida,  while  he  sent  the  multitudes  away.  And 
when  he  had  sent  the  multitudes  away,  and  perceived 
that  they  would  come  and  take  him  by  force,  to  make 


154  HARMONY    OF    THE 

him  a  king,  he  departed  again  and  went  himself  alone  up 
into  a  mountain  apart  to  pray. 


So  evidently  true  is  it  that  man  liveth  not  by  bread  alone,  but 
by  every  word  thai  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God .'  (Matt. 
ir.  4.)  How  wonderful  did  the  power  of  Christ  appear  in  thus 
multiplying  the  food !  and  how  amiable  his  compassion^  iu  his 
affectionate  concern  for  the  relief  o\  h\^  necessitous  followers! 
It  is  to  be  esteemed  a  great  happiness  when  the  ministers  of  the 
gospel  have  it  in  ihen  poxvtr  to  assist  men  in  their  temporal  as 
well  as  spiritual  necessities  ;  and  it  is  peculiarly  incumbent  upon 
them  thus  to  do  good  and  communicate :  for  with  such  sacri- 
fices from  their  hands  God  is  peculiarly  well  pleased,  and  the 
success  of  their  ministry  may  be  greatly  promoted  by  them. 
(Heb.  xiii.  16.) 

The  disciples  received  from  the  hand  of  Christ  the  food  they 
delivered  to  the  people :  and  so  should  ministers  be  concerned 
that  they  may  receive  from  Christ,  what  they  dispense  to  others^ 
as  the  bread  of  life,  and  that  thei/  also  at  the  same  time  may  live 
upon  it,  as  the  support  of  their  own  souls.  How  great  an  honour 
is  it  to  be  employed  as  stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God  !  Let 
not  immoderate  secular  cares,\e\.  not  the  desire  o{  worldly  riches 
or  greatness  interrupt  us  in  this  blessed  work !  Christ  withdrew 
from  those  who  would  have  made  him  king  :  ill  therefore  does 
it  become  his  disciples  to  pursue  earthly  grandeur ;  and  most 
unworthy  is  it  of  ^w  ministers  to  act  as  if  his  kingdom  were  of 
this  world.  May  we  learn  in  every  state  to  be  content.  (Phil, 
ir.  11.)  In  want  may  we  cheerfully  trust  Providence !  In 
plenty,  may  we  not  wantonly  abuse  it !  but  learn,  by  his  com- 
mand o{  gathering  up  the  fragments  even  of  his  miraculous  feast, 
a  wise  frugality  in  the  use  of  our  enjoyments ;  that  nothing  may 
be  lost,  nor  a  reserve  be  wanting,  by  which  the  streams  of  future 
liberality  may  be  fed. 

When  the  day  had  been  thus  employed,  Christ  retired  to  a 
mountain  to  pray.  Thus  must  stcret  devotion  attend  our  publie 
labours  for  the  instruction  and  salvation  of  men,  if  we  would 
secure  that  Divine  blessing,  without  which,  neither  the  most 
eloquent  preaching,  nor  the  most  engaging  and  benevolent  eon* 
duct,  can  command  or  promise  success. 


FOTTR    GOSPELS.  Ibb 


SECTION  XXXIV. 

Matthew  xiv.  24 — 36.    Mabk  vi.  47 — 56. 
John  vi.  16 — 21. 

And  when  the  evening  was  now  come,  his  disciples 
went  down  unto  the  sea,  and  entered  into  a  ship,  and 
went  over  the  sea  towards  Capernaum  :  and  it  was  now 
dark,  and  the  ship  was  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  and  he 
alone  on  the  land,  and  was  not  come  to  them  :  and  the 
sea  arose  by  reason  of  a  great  wind  that  blew.  And 
he  saw  them  toiling  in  rowing  :  for  the  wind  was  con- 
trary unto  them,  and  the  ship  was  tossed  with  waves. 
And  about  the  fourth  watch  of  the  night  Jesus  cometh 
unto  them,  when  they  had  rowed  about  five-and-twenty 
or  thirty  furlongs,  walking  upon  the  sea,  and  would  have 
passed  by  them.  And  when  the  disciples  saw  him  walk- 
ing on  the  sea,  and  drawing  nigh  unto  the  ship,  they  sup- 
posed it  to  have  been  a  spirit  ;  and  cried  out  for  fear. 
(For  they  all  saw  him  and  were  troubled.)  And  imme- 
diately he  talked  with  them,  and  saith  unto  them,  Be  of 
good  cheer  :  it  is  I  ;  be  not  afraid.  And  Peter  answer 
ed  him  and  said,  Lord,  if  it  be  thou,  bid  me  come  to 
thee  on  the  water.  And  he  said,  Come.  And  when 
Peter  was  come  down  out  of  the  ship,  he  walked  on  the 
water,  to  go  to  Jesus.  But  when  he  saw  the  wind  bois- 
terous, he  was  afraid  :  and  beginning  to  sink,  he  cried, 
saying,  Lord,  save  me  And  immediately  Jesus  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said  unto  him,  O 
thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  ?  Then 
they  willingly  received  him  into  the  ship.  And  when 
they  were  come  into  the  ship,  the  wind  ceased,  and  im- 
mediately the  ship  was  at  the  land,  whither  they  went. 
Then  they  that  were  in  the  ship  were  sore  amazed  in 
themselves  beyond  measure,  and  wondered  ;  for  they 
considered  not  the  miracle  of  the  loaves,  for  their  heart 
was  hardened.     And  they  came  and   worshipped  him, 


166  HARMONY    OP   THE 

saying,  Of  a  truth  thou  art  the  Son  of  God.  And  when 
they  had  passed  over,  they  came  into  the  land  of  Gen- 
nesaret ;  and  drew  to  the  shore.  And  when  they  were 
come  out  of  the  ship,  the  men  of  that  place  had  straight- 
way knowledge  of  him,  and  they  sent  out  into  all  the 
country  round  about,  and  began  to  carry  about  in  beds 
those  that  were  sick,  where  they  heard  he  was,  and 
brought  unto  him  all  that  were  diseased. 

And  whithersoever  he  entered  into  villages,  or  cities, 
or  country,  they  laid  the  sick  in  the  streets,  and  besought 
him  that  they  might  touch  if  it  were  but  the  border  of 
his  garment :  and  as  many  as  touched  him  were  made 
perfectly  whole. 

Thus  it  still  pleases  Christ  to  exercise  the  faith  of  his  people, 
that  he  may  strengthen  their  dependance  on  him,  and  demonstrate 
at  once  his  compassion  and  his  power.  Thus  are  storms  per- 
mitted oftentimes  to  rise  arouxid  them,  and  for  a  while  they  are 
left  in  darkness,  and  are  tossed  ivith  tempests :  hut  he  is  near  at 
hand,  even  when  they  think  him  at  the  remotest  distance  ;  and 
when  he  seems  to  be  passing  by  them,  as  regardless  of  their  dan- 
ger and  distress,  he  has  designs  of  grace  and  mercy  to  them,  and 
acts  in  such  a  waj''  on  purpose  to  quicken  and  excite  them  to  a 
greater  earnestness  and  fervour  in  their  application  to  him. 
Happy  would  the  Christian  be,  could  he  always  discern  his 
Lord  and  always  conceive  of  him  aright!  but  alas,  how  often 
does  he  appear  to  the  disordered  mind  as  the  object  of  terror 
rather  than  of  confidence  !  and,  in  a  day  of  darkness,  while  he 
may  seem  to  treat  his  suffering  people  with  neglect,  instead  of 
seeking  him  with  a  more  earnest  importunity,  how  ready  are 
they  to  be  overwhelmed  with  fears,  and  to  conclude  he  has  for - 
gotten  them! 

At  the  command  of  Jesus,  Peter  ventured  to  go  to  him  on  trie 
sea.  And  through  what  storms  and  dangers  may  we  not  safely 
venture,  if  we  are  sure  that  our  Lord  calls  us  !  Yet  the  rebuke 
which  he  suffered,  may  warn  us  not  rashly  to  throw  ourselves 
on  unnecessary  trials,  lest  our  excess  of  confidence  end  in  fear 
and  disgrace.  Modesty  and  caution  will  adorn  our  other  virtues, 
and  render  us  amiable  in  the  eyes  of  the  humble  Jesus. 

In  how  many  circumstances  of  life  does  theChristian  appear 
to  his  own  imagination  like  Peter  beginning  to  sink  in  the  waves  ! 
But  in  the  time  of  our  distress,  like  him,  let  us  cry  to  Jes^is  for 
help  ;  and,  while  we  are  lifting  up  the  hands  oi faith  a.ndprayer 
we  may  humbly  hope  that  Christ  will  stretch  forth  his  omnipo- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  157 

tent  arm  for  our  rescue.  Let  every  experience  of  this  kind, 
and  all  the  sensible  »id  he  is  from  time  to  time  imparting  to  us, 
establish  our  depcndance  on  him,  and  enforce  our  obedience  to 
him,  as  the  Son  of  God.  May  Divine  Grace  deliver  us  from 
thsii  hardness  of  heart,  that  stupidity  and  insensibility  ot  mind 
which  sometimes  remains  unconvinced  in  the  midst  of  evidence, 
and  unaffected  under  the  most  moving  illustrations  of  his  abilities 
and  willingness  to  help  us  1 


SECTION  XXXV. 

John  vi.  22 — 40. 

The  day  following,  when  the  people  which  stood  on  the 
other  side  of  the  sea  saw  that  there  was  none  other  boat 
there,  save  that  one  whereinto  his  disciples  were  enter- 
ed, and  that  Jesus  went  not  with  his  disciples  into  the 
boat,  but  that  his  disciples  were  gone  away  alone  : 
(Howbeit  there  came  other  boats  from  Tiberias  nigh 
unto  the  place  where  they  did  eat  bread,  after  that  the 
Lord  had  given  thanks  :)  When  the  people  therefore 
saw  that  Jesus  was  not  there,  neither  his  disciples,  they 
also  took  shipping,  and  came  to  Capernaum,  seeking  for 
Jesus.  And  when  they  found  him  on  the  other  side  of 
the  sea,  they  said  unto  him.  Rabbi,  when  earnest  thou 
hither  ?  Jesus  answered  them  and  said,  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  Ye  seek  me,  not  because  ye  saw  the  mira- 
cles, but  because  ye  did  eat  of  the  loaves,  and  were  filled. 
Labour  not  for  the  meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that 
meat  which  endureth  unto  everlasting  life,  which  the 
Son  of  man  shall  give  unto  you  :  for  him  hath  God  the 
Father  sealed,  Then  they  said  unto  him,  What  shall  we 
do  that  we  might  work  the  works  of  God  ?  Jesus  an- 
swered and  said  unto  them,  This  is  the  work  of  God,  that 
ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent.  They  said  there- 
fore unto  him,  What  sign  showest  thou  then,  that  we 
may  see  and  believe  thee  ?  What  dost  thou  work  ?  Our 
Fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  desert ;  as  it  is  written,  He 
gave  them  bread  from  heaven  to  eat.     Then  Jesus  said 

15 


158  HARMONY    OP   THE 

unto  them,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Moses  gave 
you  not  that  bread  from  heaven  :  but  my  Father  giveth 
you  the  true  bread  from  heaven.  For  the  bread  of  God 
is  he  which  cometh  down  from  heaven,  and  giveth  life 
unto  the  world.  Then  said  they  unto  him.  Lord,  ever- 
more give  us  this  bread.  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  I 
am  the  bread  of  life  ;  he  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never 
hunger,  and  he  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst. 
But  I  said  unto  you.  That  ye  also  have  seen  me,  and  be- 
lieve not.  All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come  to 
me  ;  and  him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out.  For  I  came  down  from  heaven,  not  to  do  mine 
own  will,  but  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me.  And  this  is 
the  Father's  will  which  hath  sent  me,  that  of  all  which  he 
hath  given  me  I  should  lose  nothing,  but  should  raise  It 
up  again  at  the  last  day.  And  this  is  the  will  of  him 
that  sent  me,  that  every  one  that  seeth  the  Son,  and  be- 
lieveth on  him,  may  have  everlasting  life  :  and  I  will  raise 
him  up  at  the  last  day. 


How  gratefully  should  we  acknowledge  the  Divine  goodness 
in  giving  this  true  bread  from  heaven  /or  the  life  of  the  ivorld ; 
and  how  solicitous  should  we  be,  that  by  a  true  faith  we  may 
feed  upon  it  I  In  the  midst  of  so  many  ensnaring  circumstan- 
ces, let  us  be  strictly  watchful  over  ourselves,  that  the  vigour 
of  our  pursuits  and  labours  may  not  be  laid  out  on  the  meat 
which  perishes,  to  the  forgetfulness  o(  that  which  endures  to  eter- 
nal lift;  but  acknowledging  those  authentic  seals,  by  which 
Christ  is  marked  out  to  that  important  trust,  may  we  apply  to 
him  as  sent  of  God  the  Father  to  be  the  Author  of  eternal  salva- 
tion, and  come  to  him  to  be  partakers  of  his  saving  benefits  ! 

It  must  surely  grieve  us  to  observe  the  neglect  and  coatempt 
with  which  he  is  too  frequently  treated ;  but  it  may  comfort  U3 
that  there  yet  remains  a  remnant  according  to  the  election  of  grace, 
(Rom.  xi.  5.)  All  that  the  Father  giveth  him,  will  come  to  him ; 
and  blessed  be  God,  that  this  appears  to  be  no  inconsiderable 
number.  Stcret  things  belong  to  the  Lord  our  God,  (Deut.  xxix. 
29.)  let  it  therefore  be  our  care  to  make  first  our  calling,  and 
then  by  a  happy  consequence,  our  election  sure,  (2  Pet.  i.  10.) 
Whatever  discouragements  may  arise  in  our  way,  may  we  fly 
to  cast  ourselves  at  the  foot  of  Christ ;  and  then  we  may  be  sure 
that  he  will  never  on  any  consideration  cast  us  out,  but  will  re- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  159 

ceive  us  in  the  arms  of  his  almighty  compassion,  and  having- 
sheltered  and  maintained  us  in  his  house  on  earth,  will  at  length 
conduct  us  safely  to  the  presence  of  his  glory  and  to  the  blessed 
abodes  of  complete  felicity. 

SECTION  XXXVI. 

John  vi.  41 — 58. 

The  Jews  then  murmured  at  him,  because  he  said,  I 
am  the  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven.  And 
they  said,  Is  not  this  Jesus,  the  son  of  Joseph,  whose 
father  and  mother  we  know  ?  how  is  it  then  that  he 
saith,  I  came  down  from  heaven  ?  Jesus  therefore 
answered  and  said  unto  them,  Murmur  not  among 
yourselves.  No  man  can  come  to  me,  except  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw  him  :  and  I  will  raise 
him  up  at  the  last  day.  It  is  written  in  the  prophets, 
And  they  shall  be  all  taught  of  God.  Every  man  there- 
fore that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learned  of  the  Father 
cometh  unto  me*  Not  that  any  man  hath  seen  the 
Father,  save  he  which  is  of  God,  he  hath  seen  the 
Father.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  yew,  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me  hath  everlasting  life.  I  am  that  bread  of 
life.  Your  fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  wilderness,  and 
are  dead.  This  is  the  bread  which  cometh  down  from 
heaven,  that  a  man  may  eat  thereof,  and  not  die.  I 
am  the  living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven  :  if 
any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  shall  live  for  ever  :  and  the 
bread  that  I  will  give  is  my  flesh,  which  I  will  give  for 
the  life  of  the  world. 

The  Jews  therefore  strove  amongst  themselves, 
saying,  How  can  this  man  give  us  his  flesh  to  eat  ? 
Then  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you,  Except  ye  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man,  and 
drink  his  blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you.  Whoso  eateth 
my  flesh,  and  drinketh  my  blood,  hath  eternal  life,  and 
I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day.  For  my  flesh  is 
meat  indeed,  and  ray  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He  that 
eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh  my  blood,  dwelleth  in  me, 


]60  HARMONY    OF   THE 

and  I  in  him.  As  the  living  Father  hath  sent  me,  and  I 
live  by  the  Father  :  so,  he  that  eateth  me,  even  he  shall 
live  by  me.  This  is  that  bread  which  came  down  from 
heaven  :  not  as  your  fathers  did  eat  manna,  and  are 
dead  :  he  that  eateth  of  this  bread  shall  live  for  ever. 

The  hearers  of  Christ  murmured,  and  perversely  objected 
against  his  doctrine.  Let  not  ministers  now  wonder,  ii  the  like 
capricious  humour  sometimes  prompts  their  hearers  to  seek 
occasion  of  offence  where  there  is  none.  Let  them  learn  of 
their  great  Master^  in  meekness  to  instruct  those  that  oppose  them- 
selves^ if  God  peradventure  will  give  them  repentance  to  the  ac- 
knoioledging  of  the  truth;  (2  Tim.  ii,  25.;  Our  Lord  expressly 
asserts  the  necessity  of  bein^  taught  and  drawn  by  the  Father^ 
in  order  to  our  knowing- him,  and  coming  to  him.  Let  us  there- 
tore  humbly  seek  ihese  influences  ourselves,  and  fix  our  depen- 
dance  upon  them  in  all  our  attempts  upon  others,  for  their  con- 
version and  edification. 

Christ  here  gives  us  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept, 
to  illustrate  and  enforce  this  important  doctrine  of  the  necessi- 
ty of  regarding  him  as  the  bread  of  life,  and  of  feeding  by  fai-th 
on  his  flesh  and  blood,  which  he  has  give7i/or  the  life  of  the  world. 
Let  us,  as  we  desire  any  part  in  his  saving  blessings?,  most 
thankfully  receive  his  flesh  as  meat  indeed,  and  his  blood  as 
drink  indeed.  May  God  be  merciful  to  those  that  call  them- 
selves Christians,  and  yet  are  strangers  to  such  a  believing  in- 
tercourse with  Christ,  and  to  the  derivation  of  spiritual  life 
from  him  !  If  this  be  erUhusiasm,  it  is  the  enthusiasm  of  scrip- 
ture;  and  the  denial  or  forgetfulness  of  these  important  doc- 
trines is  like  a  fi.tal  palsy  to  the  soul  which  chills  as  it  were, 
all  its  nerves,  and  destroys  at  once  its  sensibility  and  vigour, 
its  pleasure  and  usefulness. 

To  represent  and  inculcate  these  great  truths,  our  Lord 
afterward  instituted  the  sacrament  of  his  supper,  in  which  we 
not  only  commemorate  his  sufferings,  but  our  own  concern  iu 
them.  It  is  the  language  of  every  intelligent  approach  to  it, 
that  we  acknowledge  the  life  of  our  souls  to  depend  on  the  merit 
of  his  atonement,  and  the  communications  of  his  grace.  This  is 
eating  his  flesh,  and  drinking  his  blood :  may  we  be  nourished 
by  it  to  eternal  life  I  Then  though  this  mortal  part  of  our  na- 
ture drop  into  the  dust,  our  souls  ivill  live  and  triumph ;  nor 
shall  our  bodies  finally  perish,  but  be  raised  up  by  Christ  in  the 
great  day,  to  take  their  part  in  the  fulljo_^  of  our  Lord.  There 
these  intermediate  ordinances  shall  cease,  and  copious  uninter- 
rupted streams  of  Divine  teachings  and  Divine  influences,  shall 
sweetly  flow  in  upon  our  ever  improving,  active,  rejoicing 
minds. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  l6l 

SECTION  XXXVII. 

John  vi.  69—71. 

These  things  said  he  in  the  synagogue,  as  he  taught  in 
Capernaum.  Many  therefore  of  his  disciples,  when 
they  heard  this,  said,  This  is  a  hard  saying  ;  who  can 
hear  it!  When  Jesus  knew  in  himself  that  his  disciples 
murmured  at  it,  he  said  unto  them,  Doth  this  offend 
you  ?  What,  and  if  ye  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  ascend 
up  where  he  was  before  ?  It  is  the  spirit  that  quicken- 
eth  :  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing  :  the  words  that  I  speak 
unto  you,  they  are  spirit  and  they  are  life.  But  there 
are  some  of  you  that  believe  not.  For  Jesus  knew 
from  the  beginning  who  they  were  that  believed  not, 
and  who  should  betray  him.  And  he  said,  Therefore 
said  I  unto  you,  that  no  man  can  come  unto  me,  except 
it  were  given  unto  him  of  my  Father.  From  that  time 
many  of  his  disciples  went  back,  and  walked  no  more 
with  him.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  the  twelve.  Will  ye 
also  go  away  ?  Then  Simon  Peter  answered  him.  Lord, 
to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal 
life. — And  we  believe  and  are  sure  that  thou  art  that 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  Jesus  answered 
them.  Have  not  I  chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  of  you  is 
a  devil  ?  He  spake  of  Judas  Iscariot  the  son  of  Simon  : 
for  he  it  was  that  should  betray  him,  being  one  of  the 
twelve. 

We  have,  through  the  Divine  goodness,  been  made  acquain- 
ted with  those  gospel- truths^  in  their  full  evidence,  and  mutual 
connexion,  which  were  more  obscurely  hinted  to  those  who 
attended  on  C/imr*  personal  ministry  :  may  we  therefore  hear- 
ken to  the  spiritual  seyise  of  this  sublime  and  excellent  dis- 
course !  And  as  the  credible  account  of  his  ascension  into  glory 
is  now  added  to  the  rest,  let  us  receive  the  whole  of  his  doc- 
trine with  the  most  humble  submission  :  earnestly  entreating 
the  influences  of  Divine  grace,  that  we  may  not  only  be  drawn 
to  Christ,  but  be  so  firmly  attached  to  his  interest,  that  whoever 

15* 


162  HARMONY    OF    THE    FOUR    GOSPELS. 

else  forsake  him^  we  may  never  go  away.  On  the  contrary,  may 
we  rather  collect  an  argument  from  their  ingratitude  and  folly, 
more  strenuously  and  more  affectionately  to  adhere  to  him  ;  in- 
deed to  whom  should  we  go,  but  to  him  ?  He  has  the  words  of 
tternal  life.  From  him  therefore,  in  all  lowly  subjection  of 
soul,  may  we  learn  those  lessons  on  which  our  everlasting  hap- 
piness depends ! 

May  we  never,  like  Judas,  conceal  a  treacherous  and  disaf- 
fected heart,  under  the  specious  appearance  of  piety  and  good- 
ness !  This  would  be  only  imposing  on  ourselves ;  for  his  pene- 
trating eye  can  never  be  deceived.  May  we  approve  the  integ- 
rity of  our  souls  in  his  sight,  and  repose  an  unlimited  confi- 
dence in  him,  as  one  whom  we  believe  and  know  to  be  a  Divine 
Saviour,  Christ  the  son  of  the  living  God  / 


PART    IV. 


MATTHEW  XV.  XXVII.  MARK  VII.  XV.  LUKE 
IX.   18.    XXIII.  JOHN   Vn.  XIX. 

CONTAINING  THE  PERIOD  OF  TWELVE  MONTHS,  FROM  THE 
END  OF  THE  SECOND  YEAr's  PREACHING  OF  OUR  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST,  IN  THE  BEGINn'iNG  OF  THE  YEAR 
TWENTY  NINE,  TO  THE  END  OF  THE  THIRD  YEAR  IN 
THE  BEGINNING  OF  THIRTY. 


HARMONY    OF    THE  FOUR  GOSPELS.  165 


SECTION  I. 
Matt.  xv.  1—19.     Mark  vii.  1—13. 

Then  carae  together  unto  him  the  Pharisees,  and  cer- 
tain of  the  scribes,  which  came  from  Jerusalem.  And 
when  they  saw  some  of  his  disciples  eat  bread  with 
defiled,  that  is  to  say,  with  unwashen  hands,  they  found 
fault.  For  the  Pharisees,  and  all  the  Jews,  except  they 
wash  their  hands  oft,  eat  not,  holding  the  tradition  of 
the  elders.  And  when  they  come  from  the  market, 
except  they  wash,  they  eat  not.  And  many  other  things 
there  be,  which  they  have  received  to  hold,  as  the 
washing  of  cups,  and  pots,  and  of  brazen  vessels,  and 
tables.  Then  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes  asked  him, 
Why  walk  not  thy  disciples  according  to,  but  transgress, 
the  tradition  of  the  elders  ?  for  they  wash  not  their 
hands  when  they  eat  bread.  But  he  answered  and 
said  unto  them,  Why  do  ye  also  transgress  the  com- 
mandment of  God  by  your  tradition  ?  For,  laying  aside 
the  commandment  of  God,  ye  hold  the  tradition  of  men, 
as  the  washing  of  pots  and  cups  :  and  many  other  such 
like  things  ye  do.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Full  well 
ye  reject  the  commandment  of  God,  that  ye  may  keep 
your  own  tradition.  For  God  commanded  hy  Moses, 
saying,  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother  :  and,  He 
that  curseth  father  or  mother,  let  him  die  the  death. 
But  ye  say.  Whosoever  shall  say  to  his  father  or  mother, 
It  is  Corban,  that  is  to  say,  a  gift,  by  whatsoever  thou 
mightest  be  profited  by  me,  he  shall  he  free.  And  ye 
suffer  him  no  more  to  honour,  or  to  do  aught  for  his 


166  HARMONY  OF  THE 

father  or  his  mother  ;  making  the  word  of  God  of  none 
effect  by  your  tradition,  which  ye  have  delivered  :  and 
many  such  Hke  things  do  ye.  Ye  hypocrites,  well  hath 
Esaias  prophesied  of  you,  as  it  is  written.  This  people 
draweth  nigh  unto  me  with  their  mouth,  and  honoureth 
me  with  their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me.  How- 
beit,  in  vain  do  they  worship  me  teachingybr  doctrines 
the  commandments  of  men. 


How  miserable  is  the  case  of  those  who,  while  they  earnestly 
contend  for  the  forms  of  Divine  worship,  are  losing  both  the  im- 
provement and  reward,  which  might  be  expected  from  a  regular 
attendance  upon  it !  This  is  the  case  of  all,  w^ho  draiv  near  to 
God  with  their  lips,  while  their  hearts  are  far  from  him.  May 
we  abhor  the  vanity  of  such  hypocritical  behaviour  in  the  presence 
of  Him,  who  searches  the  heart  and  tries  the  reitis  of  the  childj-en 
of  men. 

Let  us  learn  from  this  just  and  severe  sentence  which  our  Lord 
passes  on  these  superstitious  Pharisees,  to  avoid  the  temper  he 
condemns  in  them.  It  much  less  becomes  us  as  Christians,  and 
especially  as  protestants  to  impose  on  our  brethren  with  rigorous 
severity  those  doctrinal  decisions,  or  those  ritual  observances, 
which  have  not  their  express  foundation  in  the  word  of  God,  to 
which  we  so  constantly  appeal  as  to  our  common  rule.  Happy 
had  it  been  for  the  church  in  all  ages  and  nations,  had  men  exerted 
that  zeal  for  the  truths  and  the  institutions  of  God  in  the  beauty 
and  glory  of  their  native  simplicity,  which  has  carried  them  on  to 
defend  and  propagate  their  own  inventions,  till  religion  itself  has 
almost  sunk  under  the  weight  of  the  ornaments  in  which  they 
have  dressed  it,  and  the  unwieldy  armour  which  they  have  hung 
about  it ! 

Let  children  learn  from  the  command  which  Christ  has  vindi- 
cated, to  honour  their  parents  by  a  tender  care  of  them  in  their 
declining  days ;  remembering,  that  as  no  filial  duty  and  gratitude 
can  ever  fully  repay  our  obligations  to  such  friends,  so  an  affec- 
tionate regard  to  them  is  a  proper  and  necessary  expression  of  our 
filial  piety  to  the  great  Father  of  our  spirits.  Justly  may  he  es- 
teem his  temples  profaned,  rather  than  adorned,  by  the  most 
costly  gifts,  which  are  the  spoils  of  nature,  and  the  trophies  of 
inhumanity. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  167 

SECTION  11. 

Matt.  XV.   10—20.     MARKvii.  14 — 23. 

And  when  he  had  called  all  the  people,  he  said  unto 
them,  Hearken  unto  me  every  one  of  you,  and  under- 
stand :  There  is  nothing  from  without  a  man,  that 
entering  into  him  can  defile  him.  Not  that  which  goeth 
into  the  mouth  defileth  a  man  ;  but  the  things  which 
come  out  of  him :  that  which  cometh  out  of  the  mouth, 
this  defileth  a  man.  If  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  let 
him  hear.  And  when  he  was  entered  into  the  house 
from  tiie  people,  then  came  his  disciples,  and  said  unto 
him,  Knowest  thou  that  the  Pharisees  were  oflTended, 
after  they  heard  this  saying  ?  But  he  answered  and 
said,  Every  plant,  which  my  heavenly  Father  hath  not 
planted,  shall  be  rooted  up.  Let  them  alone  :  they  be 
blind  leaders  of  the  blind.  And  if  the  blind  lead  the 
blind,  both  shall  fall  into  the  ditch.  Then  answered 
Peter  and  said  unto  him.  Declare  unto  us  this  parable. 
And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Xre  ye  also  yet  without 
understanding  ?  Do  ye  not  perceive,  that  whatsoever 
thing  from  without  entereth  at  the  mouth  into  the  man, 
it  cannot  defile  him,  because  it  entereth  not  into  his 
heart,  but  goeth  into  the  belly,  and  is  cast  out  into  the 
draught,  purging  all  meats  ?  And  he  said,  But  that 
which  cometh  out  of  the  man,  that  defileth  the  man  : 
for  those  things  which  proceed  out  of  the  mouth  come 
forth  from  the  heart ;  and  they  defile  the  man.  For 
from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men,  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornications,  thefts,  covet- 
ousness,  wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an  evil  eye, 
false  witness,  blasphemies,  pride,  foolishness.  All  these 
evil  things  come  from  within,  and  these  are  the  things 
that  defile  the  man :  but  to  eat  with  unwashen  hands 
defileth  not  a  man. 

May  we  be  all  taught  of  God  to  maintain  a  constant  watch  over 
our  own  hearts,  as  remembering  that  from  thence  are  the  issues 


168  HARMONY    OF    THE 

of  life,  and  from  thence  the  sources  of  sm  and  death!  (Prov.  iv. 
23.)  All  the  secret  motions  and  sentiments  of  them  are  open  to 
the  Divine  examination  and  inspection.  There  then  may  we 
begin  our  cares,  io  purify  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  both  of  the 
flesh  and  spirit,  as  ever  we  would  perfect  holiness  in  the  fear  of 
God.   (2  Cor.  vii.  1.) 

We  see,  what  seciet  abominations  our  Lord  has  here  discovered 
and  marked  out.  It  is  a  matter  of  much  lamentation,  that  our 
corrupted  nature  abounds  with  such  poisonous  productions  :  let 
us  earnestly  pray,  that  they  may  be  rooted  out  by  Divine  grace, 
lest  we  ourselves  be  rooted  out  of  God's  vineyard,  as  at  once  en- 
cumbering and  deforming  it ! 

May  the  blessed  Spirit  of  God  create  in  us  a  clean  heart,  and 
implant  in  our  souls  a  temper  opposite  to  all  these  enormities ! 
May  candour  and  purity,  integrity  and  tenderness,  piety  and  gene- 
rosity, humility  and  wisdom,  prevail  in  our  hearts  and  shine  in  our 
conduct !  And,  in  a  word,  whatsoever  things  are  true  and  ho- 
nest, just  and  pure,  lovely  and  of  good  report,  if  there  be  any  vir- 
tue, and  if  there  be  any  praise,  let  us  think  on  these  things,  and 
practise  them  !      (Phil.  iv.  8.) 

Let  those,  who  are  employed  to  guide  others,  be  especially  so- 
licitous to  know  and  pursue  the  right  way  themselves :  lest,  in- 
stead of  saving  themselves,  and  those  that  hear  them,  they  both 
of  them  at  last  perish  together.  We  are  in  danger  of  it,  if,  like 
these  Pharisees,  we  inculcate  on  our  hearers  a  zeal  for  the  cir- 
cumstantials and  appendages  of  religion,  while  its  essentials  are 
neglected ;  and  perhaps  some  of  the  greatest  enormities  of  the 
mind  are  consecrated  under  an  honourable  name,  and  profanely 
listed  under  the  banner  of  the  God  of  holiness  and  love. 


SECTION  III. 

Matthew  XV.  21 — 28.     Mark  vii.  24— -30, 

Then  Jesus  arose  and  went  thence,  and  departed  into 
the  borders  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  entered  into  a 
house,  and  would  have  no  man  know  it ;  but  he  could 
not  be  hid.  For  behold,  a  certain  woman  of  Canaan, 
(the  woman  was  a  Greek,  a  Syrophenician  by  nation  ;) 
whose  young  daughter  had  an  unclean  spirit,  heard  of 
him,  and  came  out  of  the  same  coasts,  and  fell  at  his 
feet,  and  cried  unto  him,  saying.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O 
Lord,  thou  son  of  David  ;   my  daughter  is  grievously 


FOUR    GOSI'DLS.  169 

vexed  with  a  devil.  But  he  answered  her  not  a  word. 
And  his  disciples  came  and  besought  him,  saying,  Send 
her  away,  for  she  crieth  after  us.  But  he  answered  and 
said,  I  am  not  sent  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house 
of  Israel.  Then  came  she  and  worshipped  him,  saying. 
Lord,  help  me.  But  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her, 
Let  the  children  first  be  filled  ;  for  it  is  not  meet  to  take 
the  children's  bread,  and  to  cast  it  unto  the  dogs  And 
she  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Yes,  truth.  Lord,  yet 
the  dogs  under  the  table  eat  of  the  children's  crumbs 
which  fall  from  their  master's  table.  Then  Jesus  an- 
swered and  said  unto  her,  O  woman,  great  is  thy  faith  : 
for  this  saying  be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt .  Go 
thy  way-  the  devil  is  gone  out  of  thy  daughter.  And 
her  (laughter  was  made  whole  from  that  very  hour. 
And  when  she  was  come  to  her  house,  she  found  the 
devil  gone  out,  and  her  daughter  laid  upon  the  bed. 

If  there  be  any  thing  in  the  whole  history  of  our  Lord,  which 
might  have  a  tendency  to  discourage  and  teriify  the  humble  peni- 
tent, it  would  surely  be  his  treatment  of  this  poor  Canaanitikh 
woman,  when  she  made  so  humble  and  so  affectionate  an  applica- 
tion to  him;  first  keeping  silence;  then  intimating  in  words  a 
coldness,  not  to  say  an  aversion  ;  and  at  last  representing  her 
but  as  a  dog  in  comparison  of  the  Jews.  Surely  such  an  answer 
had  almost  broken  her  heart,  had  it  not  been  secretly  supported  by 
his  grace,  while  his  conduct  seemed  so  unkind.  Happy  are  they 
that,  like  her  (who,  though  a  Gentile,  did  in  this  instance  approve 
herself  a  true  daughter  of  Abraham,)  can  against  hope  believe  in 
hope!  (Rom.  iv.  IS.)  Happy  they,  who  can  thus  extract  argu- 
ments even  fro7n  discouragement .'  They  will  finally  conquer 
and  triumph,  as  this  pious  woman  did  ;  and  the  honours  of  their 
faith  will  be  commemorated  even  by  Christ  himself,  who  soon 
indulges  the  overflowing  tenderness  of  his  heart  in  the  applause 
he  bestows  upon  her,  and  the  ample  grant  he  makes  her  of  all 
she  asked  in  its  utmost  extent. 

16 


170  HARMONY  OF  THE 

C 

SECTION  IV. 

Matt.  xv.  29—39.     Mark  vii.  31—37.  viii.  1—10. 

Akd  Jesus  again  departing  from  the  coasts  of  Tyre 
and  Sidon,  came  nigh  unto  the  sea  of  Gahlee,  through 
the  midst  of  the  coasts  of  Decapolis.  And  they  bring 
unto  him  one  that  was  deaf,  and  had  an  impediment  in 
his  speech ;  and  they  beseech  him  to  put  his  hand  upon 
him.  And  he  took  him  aside  from  the  multitude,  and 
put  his  fingers  into  his  ears,  and  he  spit,  and  touched  his 
tongue  :  And  looking  up  to  heaven,  he  sighed,  and  saith 
unto  him,  Ephphatha,  that  is,  Be  opened.  And  straight- 
way his  ears  were  opened,  and  the  string  of  his  tongue 
was  loosed,  and  he  spake  plain.  And  he  charged  them 
that  they  should  tell  no  man  :  but  the  more  he  charged 
them,  so  much  the  more  a  great  deal  they  pubhshed  it ; 
and  were  beyond  measure  astonished,  saying,  He  hath 
done  all  things  well :  he  makelh  both  the  deaf  to  hear, 
and  the  dumb  to  speak. 

And  he  went  up  into  a  mountain,  and  sat  down  there. 
And  great  multitudes  came  unto  him,  having  with  them 
those  that  were  lame,  blind,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many 
others,  and  cast  them  down  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  he  healed 
them  ;  insomuch  that  the  multitude  wondered,  when 
they  saw  the  dumb  to  speak,  the  maimed  to  be  whole, 
the  lame  to  walk,  and  the  blind  to  see  :  and  they  glori- 
fied the  God  of  Israel. 

In  those  days  the  multitude  being  very  great,  and 
having  nothing  to  eat,  Jesus  called  his  disciples  unto 
him,  and  saith  unto  them,  I  have  compassion  on  the  mul- 
titude, because  they  have  now  been  with  me  three  days, 
and  have  nothing  to  eat  ;  and  I  will  not  send  them  away 
fasting  to  their  own  houses,  lest  they  faint  in  the  way : 
for  divers  of  them  came  from  far.  And  his  disciples 
answered,  and  say  unto  him.  From  whence  should  we 
have  so  much  bread  here  in  the  wilderness,  as  to  fill  so 
great  a  multitude  ?     And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  How 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  171 

many  loaves  have  ye  ?  And  they  said,  Seven,  and  a 
few  httle  fishes.  And  he  commanded  the  people  to  sit 
down  on  the  ground  :  and  he  took  the  seven  loaves,  and 
gave  thanks,  and  brake  them,  and  gave  to  his  disciples 
to  set  before  them ;  and  they  did  set  them  before  the 
people.  And  they  had  a  few  small  fisiies  :  and  he 
blessed,  and  commanded  to  set  them  also  before  them  : 
And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  filled  ;  and  they  took  up 
of  tlie  broken  meat  that  was  left  seven  baskets  full. 
And  they  that  did  eat  were  four  thousand  men,  beside 
v/omen  and  children. — And  he  sent  away  the  multitude. 
And  straightway  he  entered  into  a  ship  with  his  disci- 
ples, and  came  into  the  coasts  of  Magdala  and  Dalmanu- 
tha. 


The  story  of  the  deaf  man,  whose  ears  were  opened  and  his 
tongue  loosed^  is  one  additional  instance,  among  many  more,  of 
Christ's  humility,  as  well  as  of  his  power.  He  retired  from  the 
admhing  multitude ;  he  used  means  when  he  could  easily  have 
wrought  without  them ;  he  solemnly  addressed  his  heavenly  Fa- 
ther, virtually  acknowledging,  while  he  looked  up  to  heaven,  that, 
as  man,  he  derived  his  miraculous  power /rowi  above  ;  and  he  was 
so  far  superior  to  the  sentiments  of  vanity,  that  he  commanded 
men  to  conceal  the  most  glorious  and  benevolent  actions.  May 
all  his  followers,  and  especially  his  ministers,  learn  of  him  who 
was  thus  meek  and  lowly!  (Matt.  xi.  29,1  neither  acting  as  in 
their  own  strength,  when  they  attempt  a  spiritual  cure ;  nor  prO' 
claiming  their  own  praises,  when  they  have  effected  it.  Then 
will  they  likewise  do  all  things  well ;  and  there  will  be  that  beauty 
in  the  manner,  which  no  wise  man  would  entirely  neglect,  even 
in  those  actions,  which  are  in  themselves  most  excellent  and  great. 

With  what  a  circle  is  our  blessed  Lord  surrounded !  Let  us 
pause  a  little,  and  endeavour  to  paint  him  to  our  imagination  on 
this  mountain,  where  the  astonished  multitudes  so  justly  extolled 
all  these  mingled  wonders  of  power  and  of  grace.  Let  us  reflect 
on  the  dmnb  speaking,  the  maimed  made  whole,  the  lame  walk- 
ing, the  deaf  hearing,  and  the  blind  seeing,  that  with  them  we 
may  glorify  the  God  of  Israel. 

But  who  can  describe  the  sentiments  of  these  happy  creatures, 
who,  without  any  dangerous  or  painful  operation,  found  them- 
selves, in  a  moment,  restored  beyond  all  the  efforts  of  nature,  and 
heyond  all  the  prospects  of  hope !  With  what  pleasure  did  the 
ear,  which  had  just  been  opened,  listen  to  the  pleasing  accents 
of  his  instructive  tongue  !    How  did  the  lame  leap  around  him  for 


172  HARMONY    OF    THE 

joy  !  and  the  maimed  extend  their  recovered  hands  in  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments of  his  new  creating  power  !  While  the  voice  of 
the  dumb  sang  forth  his  praises  in  sounds  before  unknown ;  and 
the  eye  of  the  blind  checked  the  curiosity,  which  would  have 
prompted  it  to  range  over  the  various  and  beautiful  objects  of  un- 
veiled nature,  to  fix  its  rapturous  legards  on  the  gracious  counte- 
nance of  him  that  had  given  it  the  day  ! 

Let  us  further  reflect  with  what  correspondent  pleasure  must 
our  Lord  survey  these  grateful  and  astonished  creatures,  while 
iiis  benevolent  heart  took  its  share  in  all  the  delight  which  he 
gave  !  These  trophies  of  his  greatness,  how  unlike  to  those  of  the 
field,  the  monuments  of  desolation  and  slaughter ! — trophies,  for 
which  the  hero  must  have  struggled  with  the  man,  and  might  sit 
down  and  weep  over  his  own  success  I 

Whose  heart  is  so  insensible  as  not  to  feel  a  humane  as  well  as 
devout  pleasure  in  the  history  of  these  and  the  like  miracles,  though 
the  subjects  on  which  they  are  wrought,  are  long  since  moulder- 
ing in  the  dust!  But  let  us  further  recollect,  that  our  Divine 
Leader  has  other  yet  more  noble  and  more  permanent  trophies  ; 
those  immortal  spirits  which  he  has  redeemed,  and  sanctified,  and 
saved.  So  may  our  transported  souls,  O  blessed  Jesus,  in  the 
consciousness  of  health,  vigour,  and  salvation,heho\d  thee  as  our 
Deliverer  /  So  mayst  thou  view  us  with  satisfaction,  as  the  tra- 
vail of  thy  sold,  in  that  mountain  of  God,  where  we  hope  to  offer 
thee  nobler  praises,  and  for  ever  to  consecrate  to  thy  service  those 
powers,  which  thou  hast  recovered  from  weakness,  dishonour, 
and  ruin. 


SECTION  V. 

Matthew  xvi.  1 — 12.     Mark  viii,  11 — 21. 

The  Pharisees  also  with  the  Sadducees  came  forth,  and 
began  to  question  with  him,  tempting,  and  desired  that 
he  would  shew  them  a  sign  from  heaven.  He  answered 
and  said  unto  them,  When  it  is  evening,  ye  say,  It  will 
he  fair  weather  :  for  the  sky  is  red  ;  and  in  the  morning, 
it  will  he  foul  weather  to-day,  for  the  sky  is  red  and 
lowering.  O  ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of 
the  sky  ;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times  ? 
And  he  sighed  deeply  in  his  spirit,  and  saith,  Why  doth 
this  wicked  and  adulterous  jieneration  seek  after  a  sign  ? 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  173 

Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  There  shall  no  sign  be  given  to 
this  generation,  but  the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonas.  And 
he  left  them,  and  entering  into  the  ship  again  departed 
to  the  other  side. 

And  when  his  disciples  were  come  to  the  other  side, 
they  had  forgotten  to  take  bread,  neither  had  tKey  in  the 
ship  with  them  more  than  one  loaf. — Then  Jesus  charged 
them,  saying,  Take  heed,  and  beware  of  the  leaven  of 
the  Pharisees,  and  of  the  Sadducees,  and  of  the  leaven 
of  Herod.  And  they  reasoned  among  themselves,  say- 
ing. It  is  because  we  have  taken  no  bread.  Which  when 
Jesus  perceived,  he  said  unto  them,  O  ye  of  little  faith, 
why  reason  ye  among  yourselves,  because  ye  have 
brought  no  bread  ?  Perceive  ye  not  yet,  neither  under- 
stand ?  Have  ye  your  heart  yet  hardened  ?  Having 
eyes,  see  ye  not  ?  And  having  ears,  hear  ye  not  ?  And 
do  ye  not  remember  ?  When  I  brake  the  five  loaves 
among  five  thousand,  how  many  baskets  full  of  frag- 
ments took  ye  up  ?  They  say  unto  him.  Twelve.  And 
when  the  seven  among  four  thousand,  how  many  bas- 
kets full  of  fragments  took  ye  up  ?  And  they  said, 
Seven.  And  he  said  unto  them,  How  is  it  that  ye  do 
not  understand  that  I  spake  it  not  to  you  concerning 
bread,  that  ye  should  beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pha- 
risees and  Saducees  ?  Then  understood  they  how  that 
he  bade  the?n  not  beware  of  the  leaven  of  bread,  but  of 
the  doctrine  of  the  Pharisees  and  of  the  Sadducees. 


So  evident  is  it,  that  the  circumstances  of  a  scripture  story  may 
be  remembered^  where  the  design  of  it  is  overlooked  or  forgotten  ! 
It  is  much  to  be  wished,  that  those  which  we  have  been  survey- 
ing, may  not  increase  the  number  of  such  instances. 

In  all  those  cases,  wherein  the  arm  of  the  Lord  has  been  made 
bare  in  our  favour,  let  us  seriously  reflect  on  the  Divine  power 
and  goodness,  and  learn  from  past  experience  to  trust  it  for  the 
time  to  come.  Never  let  us  fall  into  the  perverse  suspicions  of 
the  Israelites ;  can  God  furnish  a  table  in  the  wilderness  7  (Ps. 
Ixxviii.  19.)  But  let  us  he  strong  in  the  faith,  giving  glory  to 
God,  and  cheerfully  repose  ourselves  on  his  care,  who  can  never 

16* 


174  HARMONY    OF    THE 

want  wisdom  to  judge  aright  of  the  necessities  of  his  people,  or 
power  to  relieve  them,  even  in  the  greatest  extremities. 

We  see  a  new  instance  of  the  perverseness  of  these  Scribes  and 
Pharisees.  They  tempted  Christ  by  unreasonable  demands  ;  and 
he  justly  suffered  them  to  go  away  without  the  additional  demon- 
stration they  sought.  It  is  not  for  us  to  prescribe  to  God  what 
degrees  of  evidence  he  shall  give  us.  l.et  us  impartially  pursue 
and  improve  what  we  have  :  and  be  very  careful  that  our  saga- 
city, and  openness  to  conviction,  in  other  matters  of  much  less 
importance,  may  not  condemn  our  stupidity  or  obstinacy,  where 
the  truths  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  our  souls  are  concerned. 

It  is  our  concern  to  beware  of  erroneous  principles  in  religion, 
and  of  every  corrupt  leaven  which  might  be  ready  to  insinuate 
itself  in(o  our  minds  ;  especially  of  that,  which,  like  the  leaven  of 
the  Pharisees,  would  exalt  our  confidence  in  ourselves ;  or,  like 
that  of  the  Sadducees,  would  impair  our  persuasion  of  a  future 
judgment,  and  our  solicitous  concern  to  live  as  in  the  views  of  it. 
May  the  oracles  of  Divine  truth  ever  appear  to  our  minds  as  the 
rule,  by  which  all  doctrines  are  to  be  tried !  and  let  us,  in  the 
spirit  of  love,  contend  earnestly  for  that  faith,  which  we  believe 
to  have  been  once  delivered  to  the  saints ;  that  both  our  senti- 
ments and  actions  may  finally  be  found  blameless,  unto  praise, 
and  honour,  and  glory,  at  the  appearing  oj  Jesas  Christ !  Amen. 


SECTION  VI. 

Matt.  xvi.  13—20.     Mark  viii.  22 — 26.     Luke  ix. 

18—21. 

And  he  cometh  to  Bethsaida  ;  and  they  bring  a  blind 
man  unto  him,  and  besought  him  to  touch  him.  And 
he  took  the  blind  man  by  the  hand,  and  led  him  out  of 
the  town ;  and  when  he  had  spit  on  his  eyes,  and  put 
his  hands  upon  him,  he  asked  him  if  he  saw  aught.  And 
he  looked  up,  and  said,  I  see  men  as  trees,  walking. 
After  that  he  put  his  hands  again  upon  his  eyes,  and 
made  him  look  up  :  and  he  was  restored,  and  saw  every 
man  clearly.  And  he  sent  him  away  to  his  house,  say- 
ing, Neither  go  into  the  town,  nor  tell  it  to  any  in  the 
town. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  175 

And  Jesus  went  out,  and  his  disciples,  into  the  coasts 
and  towns  of  Cesarea  Philippi ;  and  by  the  way  it  came 
to  pass,  as  he  was  alone  praying,  his  disciples  were  with 
him  :  and  he  asked  them,  saying,  Whom  do  men  say, 
that  I,  the  Son  of  man,  am  ?  And  they  answered,  and 
said,  Some  say  that  thou  art  John  the  Baptist  ;  but  some 
say,  Elias  ;  and  others,  Jeremias :  and  others  say,  that 
one  of  the  old  prophets  is  risen  again.  And  he  saith 
unto  them.  But  whom  say  ye  that  I  am  ?  And  Simon 
Peter  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Thou  art  the  Christ, 
the  Son  of  the  living  God.  And  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  him,  Blessed  art  thou,  Simon  Barjona :  for 
flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee,  but  my 
Father  Avhich  is  in  heaven.  And  I  say  also  unto  thee, 
That  thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my 
church  ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against 
it.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  ;  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  on  earth 
shall  be  bound  in  heaven  :  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven.  Then  he 
straitly  charged  and  commanded  his  disciples,  that  they 
should  tell  no  man  that  he  w^as  Jesus  the  Christ. 


We  here  behold  the  great  foundation  of  our  faith  and  hope, 

even  Jesus,  the  Rock  of  ages,  the  sa77ie  yesterday^  to-day,  and 

for  ever,  (Heb.  xiii.  8,)  who  is  Christ  the  Son  of  the  living  God. 

Other  foundation  can  no  rnan  lay.  (1  Cor.  iii.  11. )    On  him  may 

our  souls  rest,  and  the  fiercest  tempests  shall  rage  in  vain ! 

Our  Lord  foretold  that  the  gates  of  hell  should  not  be  able  to 
prevail  against  his  church  as  thus  founded ;  and  behold,  even  to 
this  day,  the  accomplishment  of  the  prediction.  As  Christians 
of  one  age  have  sunk  into  their  graves,  a  new  harvest  has  sprung 
up  in  the  next ;  and,  in  spite  of  all  the  artifices  of  Satan  to  pervert 
young  minds,  and  all  the  advantages  with  which  he  attacks 
them,  instead  of  the  Fathers  have  been  the  children,  to  be  ac- 
counted to  the  Lord  for  a  generaiion.  (Ps.  xlv.  16,  and  xxii  30.) 

Let  us  thankfully  adore  the  Divine  goodness  herein ;  and  be 
very  sensible  how  much  we  are  indebted  to  that  goodness  in 
those  powers  communicated  to  the  apostles,  on  whom,  as  subor- 
dinate/oMn(Zaiio«s  we  are  built.  (Eph.  ii.  20.)  As  they  received 
so  ample  a  commission,  and  obtained  grace  from  the  Lord  to  be 


176  HARMONY  OF  THE 

faithful  to  it,  let  us  pay  the  humblest  regard  to  their  teachings  ; 
as  well  knowing,  that  what  they  have  bound  on  earth  is  bound  in 
heaven,  and  what  they  have  inculcated,  was  solemnly  confirmed 
by  a  Divine  authority. 

If  we  have  listened  with  attention  to  those  immortal  writings 
of  theirs,  by  which,  being  dead,  they  yet  speak  ;  and  have  found 
them  the  effectual  means  of  revealing  Christ  in  our  hearts,  in  all 
his  Divine  glories  and  saving  powers ;  let  us  remember  that  we 
owe  it  not  to  flesh  and  bloody  or  the  most  excellent  human  instru' 
ments  alone,  but  to  the  influences  of  our  Father  in  heaven. 

That  efficacious  grace  is  freely  exercised,  and  operates  in  vari- 
ous methods,  on  some,  in  a  more  instantaneous  way ;  on  others, 
like  the  power  of  Christ  on  the  blind  man  of  whom  we  have  been 
reading,  by  more  gradual  advances.  Let  us  be  thankful  for 
whatever  light  we  receive,  and  press  on  to  brighter  discoveries ; 
and  join  with  them  proportionable  degrees  of  gratitude  to  Christy 
and  veneration  for  his  gospel. 


SECTION  VII. 

Matt.  XVI.  21 — 28.     Maek  viii.  31,  ix.  1.     Luke  ix. 

22—27. 

And  from  that  time  forth  began  Jesus  to  shew  unto  his 
disciples,  and  to  teach  them,  how  that  the  Son  of  man 
must  go  unto  Jerusalem,  and  suifer  many  things,  and  be 
rejected  of  the  elders,  and  of  the  chief  Priests,  and 
Scribes,  and  be  killed,  and  be  raised  again  the  third 
day.  And  he  spake  that  saying  openly.  Then  Peter 
took  him,  and  began  to  rebuke  him,  saying,  Be  it  far 
from  thee,  Lord,  this  shall  not  be  unto  thee.  But  when 
he  had  turned  about,  and  looked  on  his  disciples,  he 
rebuked  Peter,  saying.  Get  thee  behind  nie,_  Satan  : 
thou  art  an  offence  unto  me  :  for  thou  savourest  not  the 
things  that  be  of  God,  but  those  that  be  of  men.  And 
when  he  had  called  the  people  unto  him,  with  his  disci- 
ples also,  he  said  unto  them  all,  Whosoever  will  come 
after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross 
daily,  and  follow  me.  For  whosoever  will  save  his  life 
shall  lose  it^  but  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  my 


FOUR    GOSPELS  177 

sake  and  the  gospel's,  the  same  shall  save  it.  For  what 
is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and 
lose  his  own  soul,  or  be  cast  away  ?  Or  what  shall  a 
man  orive  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ?  Whosoever  there- 
fore  shall  be  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my  words  in  this 
adulterous  and  sinful  generation,  of  him  also  shall  the 
Son  of  man  be  ashamed,  when  he  shall  come  in  his 
own  glory,  and  in  his  Father's  and  with  the  holy  angels. 
For  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  his 
Father,  with  his  angels  ;  and  then  he  shall  reward  every 
man  accordincr  to  his  works.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  there  be  some  of  them  that 
stand  here,  which  shall  not  taste  of  death,  till  they  see 
the  kingdom  of  God  come  with  power,  the  Son  of  man 
coming  in  his  kingdom. 


Alas,  how  prone  are  our  foolish  souls  to  relish  and  regard  Ihe 
things  of  menralher  than  those  of  Godl  How  justly  do  we  de- 
serve the  rebuke  of  our  Lord,  who,  while  he  speaks  to  Peter  with 
such  abhorrence y  after  all  the  encomiums  he  had  just  been  giving 
him,  shews  us  with  what  indignation  we  should  reject  every 
motion  that  would  lead  us  to  prefer  our  own  ease  or  temporal 
interest  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  happiness  of  man. 

We  shall  never  act  so  mean  a  part,  if  we  cordially  digest  the 
lessons  which  Christ  hath  here  taught  us,  and  consider  of  how 
much  greater  importance  the  salvation  of  the  soul  is,  than  the 
gain  of  the  whole  world  when  opposed  to  it.  Let  us  steadily 
pursue  this  maxim  of  divine  wisdom,  and  with  cheerfulness 
sacrifice  every  other  interest  to  the  views  of  an  eternal  felicity. 

Does  Jesus  call  us  to  deny  ourselves  for  him  ?  What  ditficul 
ties  should  we  not  be  ready  to  submit  to,  what  pleasures  should 
we  not  renounce /or  him^  who  pleased  not  himself  that  he  might 
shew  his  love  to  us ;  and  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant, 
that  he  might  make  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God !  Does  he 
require  us  to  take  up  our  cross  and  follow  him?  What  suffer- 
ings should  we  not  be  willing  to  endure  for  him;  and  whither 
should  we  not  consent  to  follow  him.  who  has  borne  the  cross  for 
us,  and  willingly  expired  on  it  for  our  sakes  I 

A  sense  ol  gratitude  for  past  favours  might  bear  us  triumph- 
antly through  all  the  opposition  we  might  be  called  to  encounter 
in  his  cause  ;  how  much  more  then  may  we  be  animated  by  the 
pleasing  hope,  that  we  shall  another  day  be  confessed  by  Christ 


1  78  HARMONY  OF  THE 

in  the  presence  of  his  Father  and  of  his  holy  angels.  Let  us  repre- 
sent to  ourselves  that  SiUgnat presence,  thatawful  c?a_j/,  whenever 
a  regard  to  an  adulterous  and  sinful  generation  would  lead  us  to 
be  ashamed  of  Christ  and  of  his  words.  So  shall  we  certainly  be 
brought  to  see  the  kingdom  of  God  in  its  glory :  and  if  it  opens 
to  us  in  the  visions  of  the  future  state,  we  shall  have  no  reason 
to  be  anxiously  solicitous,  though  death  should  remove  us  from 
those  lower  regions,  before  the  gospel  hath  that  universal  tri- 
umph^ which  the  word  of  God  eucourageth  his  church  to  ex- 
pect. 


SECTION  VIII. 

Matt.   xvii.    1  — 13.     Mark  ix.    2 — 13.     Luke   ix. 

28— 3G. 

Akd  it  came  to  pass  after  six  days,  {or.,  about  an 
eight  days  after  these  sayings,)  Jesus  taketh  with  him 
Peter,  and  James,  and  John  his  brother,  and  leadeth 
them  up  into  an  high  mountain  apart  by  them  them- 
selves to  pray.  And  as  he  prayed,  he  was  transfigured 
before  them,  and  the  fashion  of  his  countenance  was 
altered,  and  his  face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  and  his  rai- 
ment became  shining  and  glistering,  exceeding  white  as 
snow,  or  as  the  light :  so  as  no  fuller  on  earth  can  white 
them.  And,  behold,  there  talked  with  him  two  men, 
which  were  Moses  and  Elias  ;  who  appeared  in  glory, 
and  spake  of  his  decease  which  he  should  accomplish  at 
Jerusalem.  But  Peter  and  they  that  were  with  him 
were  heavy  with  sleep:  and  when  they  were  awake, 
they  saw  his  glory,  and  the  two  men  that  stood  with  him. 
And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  departed  from  him,  Peter 
said  unto  Jesus,  Master,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here  ; 
and  if  thou  wilt,  let  us  make  here  three  tabernacles ; 
one  for  thee,  and  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elias  ; 
not  knowing  what  he  said  for  he  wist  not  what  to  say, 
for  they  were  sore  afraid.  While  he  yet  thus  spake, 
behold  there  came  a  bright  cloud,  that  overshadowed 
them  :  and  they  feared  as  they  entered  into  the  cloud. 
And,  behold,  there  came  a  voice  out  olthe  cloud,  which 


FOUR    GOSPELS  179 

said,  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleas- 
ed ;  hear  ye  him.  And  when  the  disciples  heard  it, 
they  fell  on  their  faces,  and  were  sore  afraid.  And 
when  the  voice  was  past,  Jesus  came  and  touched  them, 
and  said,  Arise,  and  be  not  afraid.  And  suddenly  when 
they  had  lift  up  their  eyes,  and  had  looked  round  about, 
they  saw  no  man  any  more,  save  Jesus  only  with  them- 
selves. And  as  they  came  down  from  the  mountam, 
Jesus  charged  them,  saying.  Tell  the  vision  to  no  man, 
until  the  Son  of  man  be  risen  again  from  the  dead.  And 
they  kept  that  saying  with  themselves,  and  told  no  man 
in  those  days  any  of  those  things  which  they  had  seen, 
yet,  questioning  one  with  another  what  the  rising  from 
the  dead  should  mean.  And  his  disciples  asked  him, 
saying,  Why  then  say  the  Scribes  that  Elias  must  first 
come?  And  he  answered  and  told  them,  Elias  truly 
shall  first  come,  and  restore  all  things.  But  I  say  unto 
you,  that  Elias  is  indeed  already  come,  and  they  knew 
him  not,  but  have  done  unto  him  whatsoever  they  listed, 
as  it  is  written  of  him :  likewise  shall  also  the  Son  of 
man  suffer  many  things  of  them,  and  be  set  at  nought, 
as  it  is  written  of  him.  Then  the  disciples  understood 
that  he  spake  unto  them  of  John  the  Baptist. 


How  glorious  and  delightful  was  this  view  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer,  which  the  apostles  had,  wheu  he  was  transfionred  be- 
fore ihem,  clothed  as  it  were,  with  the  Divine  Shekinah  and 
shiniag  with  a  lustre  like  that  o[  the  sun.'  How  pleasing  and 
how  edifying  must  it  be  to  them,  to  see  with  him  Moses  and 
Elijah,  those  two  eminent  saints,  who  had  so  many  ages  ago 
quitted  our  world,  but  whose  names  they  had  often  read  in  the 
sacred  records  with  wonder  and  reverence  ! 

Well  might  Pettr  say,  It  is  good  for  lis  to  be  here.  Well 
might  he  be  contented  to  resign  his  entertainments  and  his 
hopes  elsewhere,  that  they  might  prolong  these  delightful  mo- 
ments, feasting  their  eyes  with  these  Divine  visions,  and  their 
minds  with  these  more  than  human  discourses.  Nor  can  we 
wonder  that  the  scene,  transitory  as  it  was,  left  so  abiding 
a  savour  on  his  spirits,  that  in  an  epistle  which  he  wrote  many 
years  after,  and  but  little  before  his  death,  he  should  single  this 


180  HARMONY  OF  THE 

story  from  a  thousand  others  to  attest  it  as  he  does,  and  to  argue 
from  it.  (Compares  Peter  i.  16 — 18.)  But  oh!  how  much 
more  desirable  is  it  to  stand  upon  mount  Zion,  and  to  behold 
Ihofe  brighter  glories,  which  our  Jesus  wears  in  the  heavenly 
regions  !  To  behold  not  merely  Moses  and  Elijah,  but  all  the 
prophets,  the  apostles,  and  martyrs,  and,  in  a  word,  all  the  saints 
of  God  in  every  age,  whether  to  us  personally  known  or  un- 
known, surrounding  him  in  radient  circle;  and  not  only  to  be- 
hold them,  but  to  converse  with  them.  Lord,  it  is  good  for  us 
to  he  there,  in  our  desires  at  least,  and  in  our  meditations,  till 
thou  pleasest  to  call  us  to  that  happy  world,  and  to  take  us 
thither,  where  no  drowsiness  will  cloud  our  eyes,  where  no 
hurry  will  discompose  our  thoughts ;  but  where  the  perfection 
o{  holiness  and  o{  love,  shall  cast  out  every  degree  of  terror,  as 
well  as  of  sorroiv. 

In  the  mean  time  let  us  reverently  attend  to  that  Saviour 
who  appeared  in  this  majestic  form,  and  who  comes  recom- 
mended to  us  with  so  many  testimonials  of  his  Divine  autho- 
rity. He  was  again  declared  by  a  voice  from  heaven  to  be  the 
beloved  son  of  God :  as  such  let  us  hear  him,  receiving  all  his 
revelations  with  the  assurance  of  faith,  and  all  his  commands 
with  the  obedience  of  love.  If  these  sentiments  govern  our 
hearts  and  our  lives,  the  thoughts  of  that  departure  from  this 
world,  which  we  are  shortly  to  accomplish,  will  be  no  grief  or 
terror  to  our  souls.  Like  our  blessed  Master,  we  may  connect 
the  views  of  it.  and  intermix  discourse  upon  it,  with  the  most 
delightful  enjoyments  and  converse;  nay,  it  will  serve  to  ren- 
der them  yet  more  pleasing.  For  who  would  not  long  to  be 
made  conformable  to  Christ  even  in  his  sufferings  and  death,  if 
it  may  be  a  means  of  transforming  us  into  the  resemblance  of 
his  glories  I 


SECTION  IX  . 

Matt.  XVII.    14 — 21.     Mark  ix.   14 — 29.    Luke  rx. 

37—43. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  next  day,  when  they 
were  come  down  from  the  hill,  much  people  met  him. 
And  when  he  came  to  his  disciples,  he  saw  a  great 
multitude  about  them,  and  the  Scribes  questioning  with 
them.  And  straightway  all  the  people,  when  they 
beheld  him,  were  greatly  amazed,  and  running  to  him 
saluted  him.     And  he  asked  the  Scribes,  What  ques- 


FOUR    CJOSPr-LS.  181 

tion  ye  with  them  ?  And,  behold,  one  of  the  multitude 
came  to  him,  kneeling  down  to  him,  and  cried  out,  say- 
ing, Master,  I  have  brought  thee  my  son.  Lord,  I  be. 
seech  thee,  have  mercy  on  my  son  :  for  he  is  mine  only 
child.  He  is  lunatic,  and  sore  vexed,  and  hath  a  dumb 
spirit.  And,  lo,  a  spirit  taketh  him,  and  wheresoever 
the  spirit  taketh  him  he  suddenly  crieth  out  ;  and  it 
teareth  him,  that  he  foameth  again,  and  gnasheth  with 
his  teeth,  and  pineth  away  ;  and  bruising  him  hardly 
departeth  from  him.  And  I  brought  him  to  thy  disci- 
ples, and  besought  them  to  cast  him  out,  and  they  could 
not.  Then  Jesus  answered  and  said,  O  faithless  and 
perverse  generation,  how  long  shall  I  be  with  you  ?  how 
long  shall  I  suflfer  you  ?  Bring  thy  son  hither  unto  me. 
And  they  brought  him  unto  him.  And  as  he  was  yet 
a  coming,  when  he  saw  him,  straightway  the  devil  threw 
him  down,  and  tare  him,  and  he  fell  on  the  ground,  and 
wallowed  foaming.  And  he  asked  his  father.  How  long 
is  it  ago  since  this  came  unto  him  ?  And  he  said,  Of 
a  child.  And  often  times  it  hath  cast  him  into  the  fire, 
and  into  the  waters,  to  destroy  him:  but  if  thou  canst 
do  any  thing,  have  compassion  on  us,  and  help  us. 
Jesus  said  unto  him,  Tf  thou  canst  believe,  all  things  are 
possible  to  him  that  believeth.  And  straightway  the 
father  of  the  child  cried  out,  and  said  with  tears,  Lord,  I 
believe  ;  help  thou  mine  unbelief. 

When  Jesus  saw  that  the  people  came  running  to- 
gether, he  rebuked  the  unclean  spirit,  saying  unto  him, 
Thou  dumb  and  deaf  spirit.  I  charge  thee,  come  out  of 
him,  and  enter  no  more  into  him.  And  the  spirit  cried, 
and  rent  him  sore,  and  came  out  of  him  :  and  he  was  as 
one  dead  ;  insomuch  that  many  said,  He  is  dead.  But 
Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  lifted  him  up  ;  and  he 
arose.  And  the  child  was  cured  from  that  very  hour  ; 
and  he  delivered  him  again  to  his  father.  And  they  were 
all  amazed  at  the  mighty  power  of  God. 

And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house,  then  came 
the  disciples  to  Jesus  apart-  and  asked  him  privately. 
Why  could  not  we  cast  him  out  ?  Arid  Jesus  said  unto 

17 


182  HARMONY    OF    THE 

them,  Because  of  your  unbelief:  for  verily  I  say  unto 
you,  If  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard-seed,  ye  shall 
say  unto  this  mountain,  Remove  hence  to  yonder  place, 
and  it  shall  lemove  ;  and  nothing  shall  be  impossible 
unto  you.  Howbeit  this  kind  goeth  not  out,  but  by 
prayer  and  fasting. 


The  invidious  opposition,  which  these  Scribes  and  Pharisees 
made  to  our  Lord,  and  the  ill-natured  joy  they  expressed,  in 
what  they  imagined  would  disgrace  his  disciples,  appears  ex- 
ceedingly odious  ;  and  it  shews  us  the  fatal  effects  of  ambition, 
pride,  and  avarice,  when  they  possess  the  hearts  of  those  who 
should  be  (as  these  by  their  oflSce  were)  teachers  of  others. 
Such  qualities  render  those  in  the  number  of  the  most  danger- 
sous  enemies  of  mankind,  who  ought  to  be  its  most  affectionate 
friends  and  most  useful  benefactors.  May  the  light  of  the  gos- 
pel break  in  on  their  souls,  and  form  them  to  a  better  temper  ! 

The  solicitous  concern  of  this  parent  when  he  saw  his  child 
under  such  sad  symptoms  of  disorder,  may  surely  remind  per- 
sons in  that  relation,  of  the  sentiments,  with  which  they  should 
view  those  o{  their  children  who  are,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  under 
the  power  o( Satan;  and  of  the  importunity,  with  which  they 
jhould  entreat  that  the  hand  of  Christ  may  be  stretched  out  for 
their  rescue. 

A  lively  exercise  of  faith  is  greatly  to  be  desired  in  this  and 
cill  other  applications  of  this  nature.  But  alas,  how  often  do 
we  find  the  remainders  of  a  contrary  principle  !  In  how  many 
instances  doe?  that  passionate  exclamatioti  of  the  father  in  this 
story  suit  us  !  Lord  we  believe,  help  thou  our  unbelief !  How 
(difficult  is  it,  in  the  midst  of  so  much  guilt  and  weakness,  of  so 
much  perplexity  and  unworthiuess,  to  believe  the  promises  of 
forgiveness  and  preservation,  of  grace  and  glory  ?  yet  we  may 
humbly  hope  that  He,  who  by  his  grace  has  wrought  the  Divine 
principle  in  our  souls,  will  maintain  it  there.  Only  let  it  be 
our  concern  to  oppose  those  corruptions  which  would  enervate 
and  suppress  it.  Perhaps  there  are  some  of  them,  which  will 
not  be  driven  out,  but  by  prayer  and  fasting,  by  deep  humilia- 
tion, and  more  than  ordinary  solemnity  and  intenseness  of  de- 
votion. But  surely  they  have  little  regard  to  the  pence  and 
security  of  their  souls,  who  can  allot  only  a  few  hasty  moments 
to  them,  when  they  have  whole  hours  and  days  to  bestow, n  ot 
orily  on  the  labours,  but  even  on  the  amusements  of  life  1 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  183 


SECTION  X. 

Matt.  xvii.  22—27.     Mark  ix.  30 — 32.     Luke  ix. 
43 — 45.     John  vii.  1. 

And  after  these  things  Jesus  walked  in  Gahlee  :  for  he 
would  not  walk  in  Jewry,  because  the  Jews  sought  to 
kill  him  :  and  he  would  not  that  any  man  should  know 
it.  But  while  they  wondered  every  one  at  all  things 
which  Jesus  did,  Jesus  taught  his  disciples  and  said  unto 
them,  while  they  abode  in  Galilee,  Let  these  sayings 
sink  down  into  your  ears  :  For  the  Son  of  man  shall  be 
betrayed  and  delivered  into  the  hands  of  men,  and  they 
shall  kill  him,  and  after  that  he  is  killed,  he  shall  rise 
again  the  third  day  But  they  understood  not  this  say- 
ing, and  it  was  hid  from  them,  that  they  perceived  it  not  : 
and  they  were  exceeding  sorry  ;  and  were  afraid  to  ask 
him  of  that  saying 

And  when  they  were  come  to  Capernaum,  they  that 
received  tribute  money  came  to  Peter,  and  said,  Doth 
not  your  Master  pay  tribute  ?  He  saith,  Yes.  And  when 
he  was  come  into  the  house,  Jesus  prevented  him,  sav- 
ing-, What  thinkest  tliou,  Simon  ?  of  whom  do  the  kings 
of  the  earth  take  custom  or  tribute  ?  of  their  own  chil- 
dren, or  of  strangers  ?  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Of  stran- 
gers. Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Then  are  the  children  free. 
Notwithstanding,  lest  we  should  oflfend  them,  go  thou  to 
the  sea,  and  cast  an  hook,  and  take  up  the  fish  that  first 
Cometh  up  :  And  when  thou  hast  opened  his  mouth,  thou 
shalt  find  a  piece  of  money  :  that  take,  and  give  unto 
them  for  me  and  thee. 


How  slow  and  untractable  were  the  minds  of  the  apostles^ 
who  understood  not  these  plain  things  when  thus  inculcated 
again  and  again  I  But  on  the  other  hand,  how  much  integrity 
does  it  shew  in  the  historian,  to  record  what  seemed  so  little 
to  the  honour  of  himself  and  his  brethren  !   la  this  respect,  and 


184  HAKMONY    uF    THE 

many  others,  surely  credit  rises  to  the  gospel,  even  by  occasion 
of  the  infirmities  of  those  to  whom  it  wa?  committed,  and  out  of 
weakness  they  are  made  strong. — The  lenity  of  our  bltssed  Lord 
was  truly  admirable,  that  he  should  bear  with  such  stupidity  m 
his  disciples  with  so  much  g^entleness  and  patience,  and  should 
with  so  much  earnestness,  go  on  to  renew  his  instructions  to 
them.  Ijet  ns.  however,  learn  to  be  upon  our  guard  against 
the  prejudices  of  worldly  interest,  since,  as  we  see.  they  may 
take  such  stronghold  of  minds,  in  the  main,  upright  and  pious. 
And  therefore  let  us  earnestly  pray,  that  God  would  give  u«  a 
greater  relish  for  spiritual  and  eternal  blessings. 


SECTION  XL 

Mark  ix   33—50.     Luke  46—50. 

Ax^D  being  in  the  house,  he  asked  them,  What  was  it 
that  ye  disputed  among  yourselves  by  the  way  ?  But  they 
held  their  peace  :  for  by  the  way  there  arose  a  rea>:on- 
ing  among  them,  which  of  them  should  be  greatest.  And 
they  had  disputed  among  themselves.  And  Jesus,  per- 
ceiving the  thought  of  their  heart,  sat  down,  and  called 
the  twelve,  and  saith  unto  them,  If  any  man  desire  to  be 
first,  the  same  shall  be  last  of  all,  and  servant  of  all.  And 
he  took  a  child,  and  set  him  by  him  in  the  midst  of  them  : 
and  when  he  had  taken  him  in  his  arms,  he  said  unto 
them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall  receive 
one  of  such  children  in  my  name,  receiveth  me  :  and 
whosoever  shall  receive  me,  receiveth  not  me,  but  him 
that  sent  me.  For  he  that  is  least  among  you  all,  the 
same  shall  be  great. 

And  John  answered  him,  saying.  Master,  we  saw  one 
casting  out  devils  in  thy  name  ;  and  he  followeth  not 
us  ;  and  we  forbad  him,  because  he  followeth  not  us. 
But  Jesus  said,  Forbid  him  not :  for  there  is  no  man 
which  shall  do  a  miracle  in  my  name,  that  can  lightly 
speak  evil  of  me.  For  he  that  is  not  against  us  is  on 
our  part. 

For  whosoever  shall  give  you  a  cup  of  water  to  drink 
in  my  name,   because  ye  belong  to  Christ,  verily  I  say 


FOUR    GOSPEtS.  185 

unto  you,  he  shall  not  lose  his  reward.  And  whosoever 
shall  offend  one  of  these  \\n\e  onesy  that  helieve  in  me,  it 
were  better  for  him  that  a  mill-stone  were  hanged  about 
his  neck,  and  he  were  cast  into  the  sea.  Woe  unto  the 
world  because  of  offences  !  for  it  must  needs  be  that  of- 
fences come  :  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offence 
Cometh  !  Wherefore  if  thy  hand  offend  thee,  cut  it  off, 
and  cast  it  from  thee  :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into 
life  maimed,  than  having  two  hands  to  go  into  hell,  and 
to  be  cast  into  everlasting  fire  that  never  shall  be  quench- 
ed :  where  the  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  tire  is  not 
quenched  And  if  thy  foot  offend  thee,  cut  it  off,  and 
cast  it  from  thee :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  halt  into 
life,  than  having  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  hell,  into  ever- 
lasting fire  that  shall  never  be  quenched  :  where  iheir 
worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched.  And  if 
thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee  : 
it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God 
with  one  eye,  than  having  two  eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell^ 
fire  :  where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not 
quenched.  For  every  one  shall  be  salted  with  fire,  and 
every  sacrifice  shall  be  salted  with  salt.  Salt  is  good  : 
but  if  the  salt  has  lost  its  saltness,  wherewith  will  ye  sea- 
son it  ?  Have  salt  in  yourselves,  and  have  peace  one 
with  another. 


How  deeply  is  pride  rooted  in  the  heart  of  fallen  man  ;  when 
neither  the  daily  instructions,  nor  edifying  example  of  the  hum- 
ble Jesus  could  prevent  it  from  appearing,  even  among  the 
apostles  themselves,  in  so  mean  and  unworthy  a  manner  I  Still 
did  worldly  interest  and  grandeur  so  intoxicate  their  minds,  that 
they  seemed  even  against  hope  to  have  hoped  for  it,  and  to  have 
found  out  a  strange  kind  ot  method  of  grafting  these  expectations, 
even  on  the  very  cro^s  of  C/tris/,  which  was  intended  to  destroy 
them. 

How  edifying  and  affecting  are  these  lessons,  which  the  meek 
and  lowly  Redeemer  gave  us,  with  this  little  child  in  his  arms, 
whose  example  we  are  required  to  copy  !  Lord,  give  us  of  thy 
regenerating  grace,  that  we  may  do  it ;  that  we  may  be  converted, 
and  become  as  little  children,  free  from  avarice  and  ambition, 

17* 


186  HARMONY    OF    THE 

malice,  and  prejudice  !  How  melancholy  is  it  to  think,  that 
many,  who  have  by  their  ojffice  been  t mployed  to  read  and  ex- 
plain this  lesson  to  others,  and  who  have  not  been  children  in 
understandings  seem  to  have  learnt  so  little  of  it  themselves;  as 
if  it  had  never  been  at  all  intended  for  that  order  of  men,  to 
whom  indeed  it  was  immediately  addressed  !  If  there  be  any 
such  yet  remaining  in  the  Christian  ministry ^  let  them  seriously 
weigh  the  ?/'Ocdenounced  on  that  man hy  xohom  the  offence  cometh. 
May  the  infiiiiee  mercies  ot  God  be  extended  to  all  professing 
Chrinlians,  who  give  themselves  up  to  worldly  pursuits  and 
projects :  and  especially  to  those  who  make  the  church  of  Christ 
only  a  kind  of  porch  to  the  temple  of  mammon,  and  the  sacred 
office  Itself  merely  a  convenient  vehicle  for  swallowing  down 
riches  and  honours!  May  Divine  grace  deliver  us  from  such 
fatal  snares,  and  form  us  to  that  self-denial  and  mortificationt 
without  which  we  cannot  be  the  true  disciples  of  Christ;  but, 
after  having  ptfrcfrf  ourselves  through  with  many  unnecessary 
sorrows  here  shall  plunge  ourselves  deep  into  eternal  perdition  ! 
May  these  repeated  and  dreadful  representations  of  future 
misery,  which  we  have  now  been  reading,  impress  our  souls  in  a 
becoming  manner  I  Blessed  Jesus!  thou  bringest  good 
tidings ;  yet  which  of  the  prophets  under  the  legal  dispensation 
ever  represented  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  in  so  awful  a  light,  as 
that  in  which  thou  hast  placed  them  !  Let  none  of  thy  minis- 
ters be  afraid  to  imitate  thee  herein  !  nor  let  any  of  Ihy  followers 
presume  to  censure  them  for  it !  May  we  all  be  effectually 
warned  to  flee  from  the  ivrath  to  come;  and,  as  we  would  not 
another  day  be  salted  with  fire,  may  our  hearts  now  be  seasoned 
with  thy  grace  !  and  may  we,  by  a  modest  zud peaceful,  a  bene- 
volent and  useful  life,  be  daily  bearing  a  testimony  to  it,  and, 
as  the  salt  of  the  earth,  may  we  be  labouring  to  cure  the  grow- 
ing corruption  of  the  world  about  us  I 

SECTION  XII. 

Matthew  xviii.  1 — 20. 

At  the  same  time  came  the  disciples  unto  Jesus,  say- 
ing, Who  is  the  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?  And 
Jesus  called  a  httle  child  unto  him,  and  set  him  in  the 
midst  of  them,  and  said,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  except  ye 
be  converted  and  become  as  little  children,  ye  shall  not 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Whosoever  there- 
fore shall  humble  himself  as  this  little  child,  the  same  is 
greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.     And  whoso  shall 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  187 

receive  one  such  little  child  in  my  name,  receiveth  me. 
But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these  little  ones  which  be- 
lieve in  me,  it  were  better  for  him,  that  a  mill-stone 
were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned 
in  the  depth  of  the  sea.  Woe  unto  the  world  because 
of  offences  !  for  it  must  needs  be  that  offences  come  ; 
but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offence  cometh  ! 
Wherefore  if  thy  hand  or  thy  foot  offend  thee,  cut  them 
off,  and  cast  them  from  thee  :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  en- 
ter into  life  halt  or  maimed,  rather  than  havinjr  two 
hands  or  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  everlasting  fire.  And 
if  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from 
thee  :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  with  one 
eye,  rather  than  having  two  eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell- 
fire. 

Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones  ; 
for  I  say  unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  always 
behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  For 
the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 

How  think  ye  ?  if  a  man  have  an  hundred  sheep,  and 
one  of  them  be  gone  astray,  doth  he  not  leave  the  nine- 
ty and  nine,  and  goeth  into  the  mountains,  and  seeketh 
that  which  is  gone  astray  ?  And  if  so  be  that  he  find  it, 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  rejoiceth  more  of  that  sheep, 
than  of  the  ninety  ar.d  nine  which  went  not  astray.  Even 
so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Fatiier  which  is  in  heaven, 
that  one  of  these  little  ones  should  perish. 

Moreover  if  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against  thee, 
go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  thee  and  him  alone  : 
if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother.  But 
if  he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two 
more,  that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
word  may  be  established.  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to 
hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the  church  :  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  an  heathen  man 
and  a  publican. 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whatsover  ye  shall  bind  on 
earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  :  and  whatsoever  ye  shall 


188  HARM)]NY   OF    THE 

loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven.  Again  I  say 
unto  you,  that  if  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth,  as 
touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done 
for  them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  For  where 
two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there 
am  I  in  the  midst  of  them. 


Thus  happy  are  the  meanest  servants  of  Christ,  in  the  care  and 
favour  of  their  heavenly  Master,  and  in  the  angelic  guard,  which 
by  his  high  comoiand,  are  continually  attending  even  the  lambs 
of  his  Jiock.  So  condescending  are  the  blessed  spirits  above,  that 
even  the  greatest  otthem  do  not  disdain  to  minister  unto  theheirs 
of  salvation !  (Heb.  i.  14.)  Lei  not  the  wisest  and  greatest  men 
despise  those,  v/hom  angels  honour  with  their  guardianship  and 
care ;  especially  since  the  Son  of  man,  that  merciful  Shepherd, 
has  come  forth  into  this  wilderness  to  save  that  which  was  lost, 
aad  even  to  seek  and  recover  us  when  we  were  gone  astray,  and 
should  otherwise  have  wandered  on  to  our  eternal  ruin. 

What  could  have  been  more  happy  for  the  church  of  Christ 
than  the  observation  of  this  plaiii  and  easy  rule,  which  he  has 
given  for  ending-  disputes  among  his  followers !  And  yet  who, 
that  sees  the  conduct  of  the  generality  of  Christians,  would 
imagine  they  had  ever  heard  of  such  a  rule?  Instead  of  this 
private  expostulation,  which  might  often  bring  a  debate  to  a 
speedy  and  amicable  conclusion,  what  public  charges  !  what 
passionate  complaints  !  what  frequent  and  laboured  attempts  to 
take,  if  th€  least  scandalous  yet  not  the  least  pernicious  kind  of 
revenge^  by  wounding  the  characters  of  those,  w^hom  we  imagine 
to  have  injured  us  ! 

As  for  cl Lurch- censures,  how  lamentable  is  it,  that  they  have 
been  so  little  conformable  to  this  rule,  and  in  many  instances  so 
contrary  to  it,  in  almost  every  Christian  nation  under  heaven  ! 
Is  this  the  form  in  which  ecclesiastical  judgments  do  appear  in 
the  Popish^  or  even  in  ^he  Protestant  world  ?  Are  these  the 
maxims  by  which  they  have  been,  or  by  which  they  are  deter- 
mined, even  by  those  who  claim  the  largest  share  in  the  promises 
made  to  the  apostles,  and  boast  with  the  greatest  confidence  of 
the  presence  and  authority  of  Christ  with  them,  to  confirm  their 
sentences,  and  to  sanctify  perhaps  rapine  and  murder  ?  Vain 
wretched  confidence  !  Let  us  earnestly  pray  that  this  dishonour 
to  the  Christian  name  may  every  where  be  wiped  away  ;  and 
that  true  religion,  and  even  common  humanity,  may  not  with 
such  solemn  mockery  be  destroyed  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Let  humble  submission  be  always  paid  to  apostolical  decisions 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  189 

in  every  difficulty  ;  and  let  the  promises  made  to  these  leaders 
in  the  Christian  Church  be  soiTie  encourageojent  even  to  us,  on 
whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come.  None  but  an  Omnipresent, 
and  oonsequetly  a  Divine  Person,  could  say,  Wherever  two  or 
three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name^  there  I  am  in  the  midst 
of  them.  His  power  and  his  goodness  can  never  be  impaired  ; 
let  It  therefore  be  an  encouragement  to  social  prayer;  and  let 
the  remembrance  oi our  Redeemer'' s  continued  presence  and  in- 
spection, engage  us  to  behave  ourselves  agreeably  to  (he  rela- 
tion that  we  claim  to  him,  and  to  those  expectations  from  him 
which  we  profess. 

SECTION  XIII. 

Matt.   xviu.  21 — 35, 

Then  came  Peter  to  him,  and  said,  Lord,  how  oft 
shall  my  brother  sin  against  me,  and  I  forgive  him  ?  till 
seven  times  ?  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  say  not  unto 
thee.  Until  seven  times  :  but,  until  seventy  times  seven. 
Therefore  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven  likened  unto  a 
certain  king  which  would  take  account  of  his  servants. 
And  when  he  had  begun  to  reckon,  one  was  brought 
unto  him,  which  owed  him  ten  thousand  talents.  But 
forasmuch  as  he  had  not  to  pay,  his  Lord  commanded 
him  to  be  sold  and  his  wife,  and  children,  and  all  that 
he  had,  and  payment  to  be  made.  The  servant  there- 
fore fell  down,  and  worshipped  him,  saying,  Lord,  have 
patience  with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee  all.  Then  the 
Lord  of  that  servant  was  moved  with  compassion,  and 
loosed  him,  and  forgave  him  the  debt.  But  the  same 
servant  went  out,  and  found  one  of  his  fellow-servants, 
which  owed  him  an  hundred  pence:  and  belaid  hands 
on  him,  and  took  him  by  the  throat,  saying,  Pay  me  that 
thou  owest.  And  his  fellow-servant  fell  down  at  his 
feet,  and  besought  him,  saying,  Have  patience  with  me, 
and  I  will  pay  thee  all.  And  he  would  not  :  but  went 
and  cast  him  into  prison,  till  he  should  pay  the  debt. 
So  when  his  fellow-servants  saw  what  was  done,  they 
were  very  sorry,  and  came  and  told  unto  their  lord  all 
that  was  done.     Then  hi&  lord,  after  that  he  had  called 


190  IIARMO^y    OF    THE 

him,  said  unto  him,  O  thou  wicked  servant,  I  forgave  thee 
all  that  debt,  because  thou  desiredst  me :  shouldest 
not  thou  also  have  had  compassion  on  thy  fellow- 
servant,  even  as  I  had  pity  on  thee  ?  and  his  lord  was 
wroth,  and  delivered  him  to  the  tormentors,  till  he 
should  pay  all  that  was  due  unto  him.  So  likewise 
shall  my  heavenly  Father  do  also  unto  you,  if  ye  from 
your  hearts  forgive  not  every  one  his  brother  their  tres- 
passes. 


How  unreasonable  and  how  odious  does  a  severe  and  unchari- 
table temper  appear,  when  we  view  it  in  the  light  of  this  parable  I 
Yet  what  light  can  be  more  just  than  this  ?  We  are  indebted  to 
God  more  than  ten  thousand  talents  ;  from  our  infancy  we  begin 
to  contract  the  debt,  and  aie  daily  increasing  it  in  our  ripening 
years:  justly,  therefore,  might  he  cast  us  into  ihe  prison  of  hell 
till  wi:  paid  the  utterrnost  farthing.  And  were  we  to  fall  at  his 
feet,  with  a  promise  oi  paying  him  all  on  his  patient  foibeaiance, 
it  must  be  the  language  of  gross  ignorance,  or  of  presumptuous 
folly,  when  addressed  to  a  Being  who  knows  our  poverlj^,  and 
knows  that,  in  consequence  of  it,  we  are  utterly  incapable  of 
making  him  any  amends.  But  he  magnifies  his  grace  in  the  kind 
offers  of  a  dee  forgiveness ;  and  shall  we  who  receive  it,  and 
hold  our  lives  and  all  oui  hope  by  it,  take  our  brethren  by  the 
throaty  because  they  owe  us  a  few  pence  ?  or  shall  we  carry  along 
with  us  deep  continued  resentment,  glowing  like  a  hidden  fire  in 
our  bosoms  ?  God  forbid!  For  surely  if  we  do  so,  out  of  our  own 
mouth  shall  we  be  condemned,  while  we  acknowledge  the  justice 
of  the  sentence  here  passed  against  this  cruel  servant. 

Christ  himself  has  made  the  application  :  so  shall  my  heavenly 
Father  deal  with  you,  if  you  do  not  for  give  your  brethren  :  and 
he  has  instructed  us  elsewhere  to  dsk  forgiveness  only  as  we  grant 
it.  (Matt.  vi.  14,  15.)  Let  us  then  from  this  moment  discharge 
our  hearts  of  every  sentiment  of  rancour  and  revenge,  nor  ever 
allow  a  word,  or  even  a  wish,  that  savours  of  it.  And  as  ever  we 
hope  our  addresses  to  the  throne  of  Divine  mercy  should  meet 
with  a  favourable  audience,  let  us  lift  up  holy  hands^  without 
wrath,  as  well  as  without  doubting.     (1  Tim.  ii.  8.) 


FOUR  GOSPKLS.  191 

SECTION  XIV. 

John  vii.  1 — 13. 

Now  the  Jews*  feast  of  tabemaclei  was  at  hand.  His 
brethren  therefore  said  unto  hlin,  Depart  hence  and  go 
into  Judea,  that  thy  disciples  also  may  see  the  works 
that  thou  doest. — For  there  is  no  man  that  doeth  any 
thing  in  secret,  end  he  himself  seeketh  to  be  known 
openly.  If  thou  do  these  things,  shew  thyself  to  the 
world.  For  neither  did  his  brethren  believe  in  him. 
Then  Jesus  said  unto  them,  My  time  is  not  yet  come  ; 
but  your  time  is  alway  ready.  The  world  cannot  hate 
you  :  but  me  it  hateth,  because  I  testify  of  it,  that  the 
works  thereof  are  evil.  Go  ye  up  unto  this  feast :  I  go 
not  up  yet  unto  this  feast,  for  my  time  is  not  yet  fully 
come.  When  he  had  said  these  words  unto  them,  he 
abode  still  m  Galilee. 

But  when  his  brethren  were  gone  up,  then  went  he 
also  up  unto  the  feast,  not  openly,  but  as  it  were  m 
secret.  Then  the  Jews  sought  him  at  the  feast,  and 
said.  Where  is  he  ?  And  tfiere  was  much  murmuring 
among  the  people  concerning  him  :  for  some  said.  He 
is  a  good  man  :  others  said,  Nay  ;  but  he  deceiveth  the 
people.  Howbeit  no  man  spake  openly  of  him  for  tear 
of  the  Jews. 

We  see  how  little  the  pjreatest  external  advantages  can  do  with- 
rut  the  Divine  blessing,  when  some  of  the  nearest  relations  of 
Christ  himself,  by  whom  he  had  been  most  intimately  known, 
were  not  prevailed  upon  to  believe  in  him.  Who  then  can  won- 
der if  some  remain  incorrigible  in  the  m.ost  regular  and  pious  fami- 
lies ?  How  much  more  valuable  is  the  union  to  him,  which  is 
founded  on  a  cordial  and  obedient  faith,  than  that  which  arose 
from  the  bands  of  nature  ?  and  how  cautiously  should  we  watch 
against  those  carnal  prejudices.,  by  which  even  the  brethren  of 
Clirist  were  alienated  from  him  1 

Our  Lord,  we  see,  used  a  prudent  care  to  avoid  persecution 
and  danger,  till  his  time  wasfidly  come  ;  and  it  is  our  duty  to  en- 
deavour, by  all  wise  and  iinright  precautions,  to  secure  and  pre- 
serve oui selves,  that  we  may  have  opportunities  for  farther  service. 


192  HARMONY    OP    THE 

In  the  course  of  such  service  we  must  expect,  especially  if  we 
appear  under  a  public  character,  to  meet  with  a  variety  of  cen- 
sures ;  but  let  us  remember  that  Jesus  himself  went  through  evil 
report  and  goad  report ;  by  some  applauded  as  a  good  man,  but 
by  others,  and  those  the  greater  part  of  his  countrymen,  con- 
demned as  deceiving  the  people.  Let  us  learn  of  Christ  patiently 
to  endure  such  injurious  treatment;  and  endeavourr  to  behave 
ourselves  so,  that  we  may  have  a  testimony  in  the  consciences  of 
men,  and  in  the  presence  of  God,  that,  after  the  example  of  our 
great  Master,  in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  not  with  fleshly 
wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  have  our  conversation  m  the 
world,  (2  Cor.  i.  12.)  Then  will  our  names  be  had  in  remem- 
brance, and  the  honour  and  reward  of  our  fiaithful  obedience  con- 
tinued, when  the  memories  of  those  that  reviled  us  are  perished 
with  them. 


SECTION  XV. 

John  vii.  14 — 24. 

Now  about  thn  midst  of  the  feast  Jesus  went  up  into  the 
temple,  and  taught.  And  the  Jews  marvelled,  saying, 
How  knoweth  this  man  letters,  having  never  learned  ? 
Jesus  answered  them,  and  said,  My  doctrine  is  not  mine, 
but  his  that  sent  me.  If  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he 
shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God,  or 
whether  I  speak  of  myself.  He  that  speaketh  of  him- 
self seeketh  his  own  glory  :  but  he  that  seeketh  his 
glory  that  sent  me,  the  same  is  true,  and  no  unright- 
eousness is  in  him.  Did  not  Moses  give  you  the  law, 
and  yet  none  of  you  keepeth  the  law  ?  Why  go  ye 
about  to  kill  me  ?  The  people  answered  and  said, 
Thou  hast  a  devil  :  who  goeth  about  to  kill  thee  ?  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  them,  I  have  done  one  work, 
and  ye  all  marvel. — Moses  therefore  gave  unto  you  cir- 
cumcision ;  (not  because  it  is  of  Moses,  but  of  the 
fathers  ;)  and  ye  on  the  sabbath-day  circumcise  a 
man.  If  a  man  on  the  sabbath-day  receive  circum- 
cision, that  the  law  of  Moses  should  not  be  broken  :  are 
ye  angry  at  me,  because  I  have  made  a  man  every  whit 


FOrR    GOSPELS. 


i9: 


whole  on  the  sabbath-day  ?  Judge  not  according  to  the 
appearance,  but  judge  righteous  judgment. 

Let  us  learn  of  our  meek  and  humble  Master  to  refer  the  honour 
of  all  we  know  and  do  to  Divine  instruction  communicated  to  us, 
and  Divine  grace  working  in  and  by  us ;  that,  seeking  the  glory 
of  God,  we  may  have  the  surest  evidence,  that  we  are  truly  his. 
Let  us  on  all  occasions  remember  that  integrity  and  uprightness 
will  be  a  certain  security  to  us  against  dangerous  mistakes  in 
matters  of  religion.  If  the  light  we  already  have,  be  faithfully 
improvsd,  we  may  humbly  hope  that  more  will  be  given  us  ;  nor 
shall  we  then  fail  of  convincing  evidence,  th<it  ihe  gospel-docti'ine 
is  of  God  ;  for  the  experience  of  its  power  on  our  hearts  will 
check  our  passions,  and  destroy  the  prejudices,  that  would  pre- 
vent the  truth  from  taking  place  in  our  minds. 

Let  us  receive  his  doctrine  as  Divine^  and  hearken  unto  Christ 
as  sent  oj  God  ;  and  whatsoever  be  the  vile  reproaches  we  may 
meet  with  from  a  wicked  world,  and  the  malicious  designs  it  may 
form  against  us,  let  us  be  resolute  and  steadfast  in  the  practice  of 
the  duties  he  has  taught  us,  that  with  well-doing  we  may  put  to 
silence  the  ignorance  of  foolish  men.     (1  Peter  ii.  1.5.) 

Our  Lord  was  reviled  as  a  demoniac  and  a  lunatic  :  but  in- 
stead of  rendering  railing  for  railing,  he  replied  in  the  words  of 
gentleness  and  sobriety.  So  let  us  endeavour  to  conquer  the  rude- 
ness of  those  attacks  we  may  meet  with  in  his  cause  ;  that  we 
may,  if  possible,  remove  the  prejudices  so  fatal  to  those  that  en- 
tertain them,  and  form  men  to  that  equitable  and  impartial  judg- 
ment, which  would  soon  turn  all  their  cavils  against  Christ  into 
admiration,  praise,  and  obedience. 


SECTION  XVI. 

John  vii.  25—36. 

Then  said  some  of  them  of  Jerusalem,  Is  not  this  he, 
whom  they  seek  to  kill  ?  But,  lo,  he  speaketh  boldly, 
and  they  say  nothing  unto  him.  Do  the  rulers  know 
indeed  that  this  is  the  very  Christ  ?  Howbeit  we  know 
this  man  whence  he  is  :  but  when  Christ  cometh,  no 
man  knovveth  whence  he  is. — Then  cried  Jesus  in  the 
temple  as  he  taught,  saying,  Ye  both  know  me,  and  ye 
know  whence  I  am  :  and  I  am  not  come  of  myself,  but 
he  that  sent  me  is  true,  whom  ye  know  not.      But  I 

18 


194  HARMONY    OF   THE 

know  him  :  for  I  am  from  him,  and  he  hath  sent  me. 
Then  they  sought  to  take  him  :  but  no  man  laid  hands 
on  him,  because  his  hour  was  not  yet  come.  And  many 
of  the  people  believed  on  him,  and  said.  When  Christ 
Cometh,  will  he  do  more  miracles  than  these  which  this 
man  ha£h  done  ?  The  Pharisees  heard  that  the  people 
murmured  such  things  concerning  him  ;  and  the  Phari- 
sees and  the  chief  priests  sent  officers  to  take  him. 
Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  Yet  a  little  while  am  1  with 
you,  and  then  I  go  unto  him  that  sent  me.  Ye  shall 
seek  me,  and  shall  not  find  me ;  and  where  I  am,  thither  ye 
cannot  come.  Then  said  the  Jews  among  themselves, 
Whither  will  he  go,  that  we  shall  not  find  him  ?  will  he 
go  unto  the  dispersed  among  the  Gentiles,  and  teach 
the  Gentiles  ?  What  manner  of  saying  is  this  that  he 
said,  Ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  not  find  me;  and, 
where  I  am,  thither  ye  cannot  come  ? 


So  confident  is  error  in  its  own  decisions,  and  so  vain  in  its 
self  applauses!  These  unhappy  people,  every  way  mistaken, 
censure  their  rulers  for  a  supposed  credulity,  in  seeming,  as  it 
were  to  acquiesce  in  ChrisVs  claim  to  be  the  Messiah  ;  and  ima- 
gined themselves,  no  doubt,  exceeding  wise  in  rejecting  him, 
while  they  blindly  took  it  for  granted  he  was  the  son  of  Joseph, 
and  had  not  patience  to  wait  for  the  authentic  story  of  his  mira- 
culous conception.  Surely  men  had  need  to  look  well  to  the  force 
of  those  arguments,  on  which  they  venture  their  souls  by  reject- 
ing the  gospel. 

Our  Lord  answered  their  secret  reasonings,  in  a  manner  which 
might  justly  have  alarmed  them,  charging  them  with  ignorance  of 
that  God,  whom  they  pretended  to  know,  and  whom,  with  a  pre- 
sumptuous confidence,  they  claimed  as  theirs.  And  oh,  that  it 
may  not  be  found  at  last,  that  many  who  have  appeared  most  con- 
fident of  their  interest  in  God,  neither  know  him,  nor  are  known 
by  him  / 

The  blessed  Jesus^  who  is  the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  Person,  has  the  completest  knowledge  of  the 
Father.  May  we  be  so  wise  and  happy  as  to  seek  instructions 
from  him,  that  the  eyes  of  our  understandings  may  be  enlight- 
ened, and  the  temper  of  our  hearts  proportionably  regulated,  by 
all  the  discoveries  of  the  Divine  Being  which  he  makes  ! 

How  obstinate  and  desperately  hardened  were  the  hearts  of 
those,  who,  notwithstanding  all  the  proofs  that  Jesus  gave  of  his 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  195 

Divine  mission,  were  yet  so  far  from  hearkening  to  him,  as  to 
seek  opportunities  to  destroy  him.'  So  dangerous  and  fatal  is  the 
prevalence  of  error  in  such  as  like  not  to  retain  God  in  their 
knowledge,  that  they  will  even  venture  on  the  greatest  wicked- 
ness, when  once  they  are  given  over  to  a  reprobate  mind,  (Rom. 
i.  28.) — May  God  preserve  us  from  a  spirit  of  delusion^  and  fill  us 
with  that  unsdom,  that  we  may  know  the  things  belonging  to  our 
peace,  and,  being  ready  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  may 
we  acknowledge  and  attend  to  Christ  as  sent  of  God ! 

May  we  learn  this  heavenly  wisdom  in  time,  since  the  hour  is 
approaching,  when  Christ  will  be  sought  in  vain,  and  all  corres- 
pondence between  him  and  sinners  will  be  finally  cut  ofi'!  Where 
he  is,  they  cannot  then  come  ;  and  to  be  excluded  from  him  will 
at  length  appear  insupportable  misery,  even  to  those,  who,  with 
proud  folly  and  fatal  self-sufficiency  are  now  most  ready  to  say 
unto  him,  Depart  from  us,  for  we  desire  not  the  knowledge  of 
thee  or  thy  ways.     (Job  xxi.  14.) 


SECTrON  XVII. 
John  vii.  37 — 53. 

In  the  last  clay,  that  irreat  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood 
and  cried,  saying,  if  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto 
me  and  drink.  He  that  believeth  on  me,  as  the  scrip- 
ture hath  saith,  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  living 
water.  (But  this  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that 
beheve  on  him  should  receive  :  for  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
not  yet  given  :  because  that  Jesus  was  not  yet  glorified.) 
Many  of  the  people,  therefore,  when  they  heard  this 
saying,  said.  Of  a  truth  this  is  the  prophet,  Others  said, 
This  is  the  Christ.  But  some  said,  Shall  Christ  come 
out  of  Galilee  ?  Hath  not  the  scripture  said,  That 
Christ  Cometh  of  the  seed  of  David,  and  out  of  the 
town  of  Bethlehem,  where  David  was  ?  So  there  was  a 
division  among  the  people  because  of  him.  And  some 
of  them  would  have  taken  him  :  but  no  man  laid  hands 
on  him. 


196  HAKMOINY    OF    THE 

Then  came  the  officers  to  the  chief  priests  and  Pha- 
risees ;  and  they  said  unto  them,  Why  have  ye  not 
brought  him  ?  The  officers  answered,  Never  man  spake 
hke  this  man.  Then  answered  them  the  Pharisees,  Are 
ye  also  deceived  ?  Have  any  of  the  rulers  or  of  the  Pha- 
risees believed  on  him  ?  But  this  people  who  knoweth 
not  the  law  are  cursed.  Nicodemus  saith  unto  them, 
(he  that  came  to  Jesus  by  night,  being  one  of  them,) 
Doth  our  law  judge  any  man,  before  it  hear  him,  and 
know  what  he  doeth  ?  They  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  Art  thou  also  of  Galilee  ?  Search,  and  look  :  for 
out  of  Galilee  ariseth  no  prophet.  And  every  man  went 
unto  his  own  house. 


With  what  delight  and  thankfulness  should  we  hear  this  ^x?i- 
cious  proclamatimi  of  Christ,  which  he  now  made  in  the  temple, 
and  a  while  after  repeated  from  the  throne  of  his  gloiy !  If  any 
man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink  ;  yea,  whosoever 
will,  let  him  take  of  the  waters  of  life  freely.  (Rev.  xxii.  17. ) 
Blessed  Jesus,  had  we  been  allowed  to  have  prescribed  to  thee  a 
form  of  words,  in  wliich  thy  kind  purposes  towards  us  should 
have  been  expressed,  what  could  we  have  invented  more  pathetic, 
more  condescending,  or  more  reviving  ! — May  we  thirst  for  the 
blessings  of  thy  grace,  and  in  the  confidence  of  faith  apply  unto 
thee  for  them  ;  and  particularly  for  these  communications  of  thy 
Spirit,  which  are  so  highly  excellent  and  desirable,  and  indeed  so 
necessary  for  us  !  Supply  us  with  them,  we  entreat  thee,  in  so 
rich  an  abundance,  that  we,  in  our  different  spheres,  may  supply 
others,  and  from  us  there  nv^y  flow  rivers  of  living  water  ! 

Well  might  such  gracious  words  as  these  disarm  the  rage  of 
enemies  and  persecutors.  Let  us  add  our  testimony  to  theirs, 
and  say,  J\''ever  man  spake  as  Jesus  speaks.  Let  us  hear  him 
with  calm  and  thankful  attention,  while  his  voice  still  sounds  in 
his  word.  Happy  are  those  that  know  the  joyful  sound!  (Ps. 
Ixxxix.  15.)  The  Pharisees,  like  deaf  adders,  stopped  their  ears 
against  the  voice  of  the  Charmer  ;  and,  while  they  proudly  cen- 
sured the  populace  as  a  brutal  herd,  and  gloried  in  their  own  su- 
perior wisdom,  rejected  the  counsel  of  God;  rashly  judging  with- 
out serious  inquiry,  and  weakly  borne  down  by  vulgar  senseless 
prejudices  against  names  and  places,  which  is  all  the  senate  of 
Israel  opposes  to  the  the  solid  argument  of  JVicodemus  !  That 
good  man,  already  considerably  improved  by  his  interview  with 
Jesus,  was  undoubtedly  confirmed  in  his  adherence  to  him,  by 
observing  the  methods  of  their  opposition ;  and  where  magistrates 


rouB  gospelsl.  197 

arm  their  authority  to  overbear  argument,  they  will,  probably,  in 
the  judgment  of  impartial  men,  produce  a  suspicion,  at  least,  that 
they  know  their  cause  to  be  incapable  of  a  rational  defence. 


SECTION  XVHI. 

John  viii.  J  — 11. 

Jesus  went  unto  the  mount  of  Olives.  And  early  in  the 
morning  he  came  again  into  the  temple,  and  all  the  peo- 
ple came  unto  him  ;  and  he  sat  down,  and  taught  them. 
And  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  brouijht  unto  him  a  wo- 
man  taken  in  adultery  ;  and  when  they  had  set  her  in 
the  midst,  they  say  unto  him,  Master,  this  woman  was 
taken  in  adultery,  in  the  very  act.  Now  Moses  in 
the  law  commanded  us,  that  such  should  be  stoned  : 
but  what  sayest  thou  ?  This  they  said,  tempting  him,  that 
they  might  have  to  accuse  him.  But  Jesus  stooped  down, 
and  with  his  finger  wrote  on  the  ground-  as  though  he 
heard  them  not.  So  when  they  continued  asking  him, 
he  lifted  up  himself,  and  said  unto  them,  He  that  is  with- 
out sin  among  you,  let  him  first  cast  a  stone  at  her. 
And  again  he  stooped  down,  and  wrote  on  the  ground. 
And  they  which  heard  it,  being  convicted  by  their  own 
conscience,  went  out  one  by  one  beginning  at  the  eldest, 
even  unto  the  last :  and  Jesus  was  left  alone,  and  the 
woman  standing  in  the  midst.  When  Jesus  had  lifted 
up  himself,  and  saw  none  but  the  woman,  he  said  unto 
her,  Woman,  where  are  those  thine  accusers  ?  hath  no 
man  condemned  thee  ?  She  saith.  No  man,  Lord.  And 
Jesus  said  unto  her,  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee  :  go, 
and  sin  no  more. 

The  devout  retirements  of  Christ,  and  his  early  renewed  la- 
bours, so  often  come  in  view,  that,  after  having  made  some  pro- 
gress in  his  history,  we  are  ready  to  pass  them  over  as  things  of 
course.  But  let  us  remember,  tliat  in  some  degree  they  call  upon 
us  to  go  and  do  likewise ;  and  will  another  day  condemn  those, 
who,  while  they  call  themselves  his  disciples,  are  given  up  to 
ease  and  luxury,  and  suffer  every  little  amusement  or  sensual  gra- 
tification to  lead  them  into  an  omission  of  their  duty  to  God  and 

18* 


198  HARMONY    OF    THE 

their  fellow-creatures  ;  an  omission  especially  aggravated  in  those, 
whom  he  has  appointed  to  be  teachers  of  others,  and  who  have 
therefore  so  many  peculiar  errands  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  so 
many  engagements  in  the  morning  to  sow,  or  to  prepare  the  seed 
of  religious  instruction,  and  in  the  evening  not  to  withhold  their 
handi'vom  dispensing  it.     (Eccles.  xi.  6.) 

While  Jesus  is  teaching,  his  enemies  address  him,  not  only  as 
an  instructor,  but  as  a  judge  ;  and  yet,  by  this  specious  form  of 
honour  and  respect,  they  sought  only  to  msnare  and  destroy  him. 
Bo  unsafe  would  it  be  always  to  judge  of  men's  intentions  by  the 
first  appearances  of  their  actions  !  But  our  Lord,  in  his  answer, 
united,  as  usual,  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  with  the  innocence 
anJ  gentleness  of  the  dove  ;  and  in  his  conduct  to  this  criminal 
shewed  at  once  that  tenderness  and  faithfulness,  which  might 
have  the  most  effectual  tendency  lo  impress  and  reclaim  her !  if  a 
heart  capable  of  such  intidelity  and  wickedness  could  be  impressed 
and  reclaimed  at  all.  Go  thy  way,  said  he  to  this  adultress,  and 
sin  no  more.  Perhaps  the  charge  may  have  little  weight  with  such 
ai-andoned  transgressors  as  she  ;  but  let  all  learn  to  improve  their 
escapes  tioin  danger,  and  the  continued  exercise  of  Divine  patience 
towards  them,  as  an  engagement  to  speedy  and  thorough  refor- 
mation. 

Let  the  force  of  conscience,  and  the  power  of  Christ  over  it 
(both  which  so  evidently  appeared  in  this  instance,)  teach  us  to 
reverence  the  dictates  of  our  own  minds,  and  to  do  nothing  to 
bring  them  under  a  sense  of  guilt ;  which,  through  tlie  secret  en- 
ergy of  our  Redeemer,  wrought  so  powerfully  on  these  Pharisees, 
that,  hypocritical  and  vain  glorious  as  they  were,  they  could  not 
command  themselves  so  far  as  even  to  ?ave  appearances  ;  but  the 
eldest  and  gravest  among  them  were  the  first  to  confess  their 
guilt,  by  withdrawing  from  the  presence  of  so  holy  a  Prophet, 
from  the  temple  of  God,  and  from  the  criminal  whom  they  came 
to  persecute.  A  like  consciousness  of  being  ourselves  to  blame 
will  abate  the  boldness  and  freedom  of  our  proceedings  with 
others  for  their  faults,  if,  while  we  judge  them,  we  are  self -con- 
demned; nor  will  the  authority  ot  a  superior  age  or  station  of  life 
bear  us  out  against  these  inward  reproaches. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  199 

SECTION  XIX. 

John  viu.  12 — 29. 

Then  spake  Jesus  again  unto  them,  saying,  I  am  the 
light  of  the  world  :  he  that  followeth  me  shall  not  walk^ 
in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.  The  Pha- 
risees therefore  said  unto  him,  Thou  bearest  record  of 
thyself:  thy  record  is  not  true.  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  them.  Though  I  bear  record  of  myself,  yet  my 
record  is  true  :  for  1  know  whence  I  came,  and  whither 
I  go ;  but  ye  cannot  tell  whence  I  come,  and  whither  I 
go.  Ye  judge  after  the  flesh  :  I  judge  no  man.  And 
yet  if  I  judge,  my  judgment  is  true  :  fori  am  not  alone, 
but  I  and  the  Father  thvat  sent  me.  It  is  also  written  in 
your  law,  that  the  testimony  of  two  men  is  true.  I  am 
one  that  bear  witness  of  myself,  and  the  Father  that  sent 
me  beareth  witness  of  me.  Then  said  they  unto  him, 
Where  is  thy  Father  ?  Jesus  answered,  Ye  neither  know 
me,  nor  my  Father  :  if  ye  had  known  me,  ye  should 
have  known  my  Father  also.  These  words  spake  Jesus 
in  the  treasury,  as  he  taught  in  the  temple  :  and  no  man 
laid  hands  on  him  ;  for  his  hour  was  not  yet  come. 

Then  said  Jesus  again  unto  them,  1  go  my  way,  and 
ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  die  in  your  sins  :  whither  I 
go,  ye  cannot  come.  Then  said  the  Jews,  Will  he 
kill  himself?  because  he  saith,  W^hither  I  go,  ye  can- 
not come.  And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  are  from 
beneath  ;  I  am  from  abave  :  ye  are  of  this  world  ;  I 
am  not  of  this  world.  I  said  therefore  unto  you,  that 
ye  shall  die  in  your  sins  :  for  if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am 
hCy  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins.  Then  said  they  unto  him, 
Who  art  thou  ?  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Even  the 
same  that  I  said  unto  you  from  the  beginning.  I  have 
many  things  to  say  and  to  judge  of  you  :  but  he  that  sent 
me  is  true  ;  and  I  speak  to  the  world  those  things 
which  I  have  heard  of  him.     They  understood  not  that 


200  HABMONY    OF   THE 

he  spake  to  them  of  the  Father.  Then  said  Jesus  unto 
them,  When  ye  have  lifted  up  the  Son  of  man,  then  shall 
ye  know  that  I  am  he,  and  that  I  do  nothing  of  myself; 
but  as  my  Father  hath  taught  me,  I  speak  these  things. 
And  he  that  sent  me  is  with  me  :  the  Father  hath  not 
left  me  alone  ;  for  I  do  always  those  things  that  please 
him. 


Such  may  our  character  ever  be,  as  we  desire  the  supports 
of  the  Divine  presence  !  Whoever  be  displeased  may  we  al- 
ways do  the  things  which  please  him ;  and  with  all  diligence  let 
us  labour.,  whether  present  in  the  body,  or  absent  from  it,  to  be 
ptill  approved  and  accepted  ^f  him.'  (2  Cor.  v.  9.) 

Our  blessed  Redeemer  is  the  light  of  the  world.  With  how 
much  pleasure  should  we  behold  his  rays !  With  how  much 
cheerfulness  should  we  follow,  whithersoever  he  leads  us ;  as 
well  knowing  that  we  shall  not  then  walk  in  darkness ;  and  God 
forbid,  we  should  ever  choose  to  continue  in  it,  as  the  shelter 
aad  screen  of  wicked  works  ! 

May  we,  with  all  candour  and  humility,  regard  and  submit 
to  the  testimony,  which  the  Father  has  borne  to  him  in  so  express 
and  incontestible  a  manner .  Dreadful  would  be  the  conse- 
quence of  our  refusing  to  do  it.  The  doom  of  these  wretched 
Jews  would  be  ours,  to  die  in  our  sins.  And  oh,  how  insupport- 
able will  that  guilty  burden  prove  in  a  dying  hour,  and  before 
the  tribunal  of  God  !  How  will  it  sink  us  into  condemnation 
and  despair!  In  vain  shall  those,  who  now  despise  him,  then 
seek  admittance  to  the  world  where  he  is  :  thither  they  cannot 
come  ;  and  if  excluded  from  him,  must  be  excluded  from  hap- 
piness. 

Justly  might  it  long  since  have  been  our  case  :  for  surely  he 
has  many  things  to  say  of  us,  a7id  to  judge  concerning  us,  should 
he  lay  judgment  to  the  line,  and  righteousness  to  the  plummet, 
after  his  having  been  so  long  with  us,  yea,  after  we  have  as  it 
were,  seen  him  lifted  w/>,  and  set  forth  as  crucified  among  us. 
(G:tl.  iii.  1.) 

May  this  faithful  admonition  prevail  to  our  conviction  and 
reformation  ;  that  our  everlasting  condemnation  may  not  far- 
ther illustrate  the  reasonableness,  yea,  the  necessity  of  it,  and 
the  madness  of  hardening  our  hearts  against  it  1 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  201 

SECTION  XX. 
John  viii.  30 — 47. 

As  he  spake  these  words,  many  believed  on  him.  Then 
said  Jesus  to  those  Jews  which  believed  on  him,  If  ye 
continue  in  my  word,  then  are  ye  my  disciples  indeed  ; 
And  ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make 
you  free.  They  answered  him,  We  be  Abraham's  seed, 
and  were  never  in  bondage  to  any  man  :  how  sayest 
thou.  Ye  shall  be  made  free  ?  Jesus  answered  them.  Ve- 
rily, verily,  I  say  unto  you.  Whosoever  committeth  sin 
is  the  servant  of  sin.  And  the  servant  abideth  not  in 
the  house  for  ever  :  hut  the  Son  abideth  ever.  If  the 
Son  therefore  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free  in- 
deed. 1  know  that  ye  are  Abraham's  seed  ;  but  ye  seek 
to  kill  me,  because  my  word  hath  no  place  in  you.  I 
speak  that  which  I  have  seen  with  my  Father  :  and  ye 
do  that  which  ye  have  seen  with  your  father.  They  an- 
swered and  said  unto  him,  Abraham  is  our  father.  Je- 
sus saith  unto  them,  If  ye  were  Abraham's  children,  ye 
would  do  the  works  of  Abraham.  But  now  ye  seek  to 
kill  me,  a  man  that  hath  told  you  the  truth,  which  I  have 
heard  of  God  :  this  did  not  Abraham.  Ye  do  the  deeds 
of  your  father.  Then  said  they  to  him,  W' e  be  not  born 
of  fornication  ;  we  have  one  Father,  even  God.  Jesus 
said  unto  them,  If  God  were  your  Father,  ye  would  love 
nie  :  for  I  proceeded  forth  and  came  from  God  ;  nei- 
ther came  I  of  myself,  but  he  sent  me.  Why  do  ye  not 
understand  my  speech  ?  even  because  ye  cannot  hear  my 
word.  Ye  are  o^ your  father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of 
your  father  ye  will  do.  He  was  a  murderer  from  the 
beginning,  and  abode  not  in  the  truth,  because  there  is 
no  truth  in  him.  When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh 
of  his  own  :  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  it.  And 
because  I  tell  you  the  truth,  ye  believe  me  not.  Which 
of  you  convinceth  me  of  sin?    And  if  I  say  the  truth, 


202  HARMONY   OF    THE 

why  do  ye  not  believe  me  ?  He  that  is  of  God  heareth 
God's  words  :  ye  therefore  hear  them  not,  because  ye  are 
not  of  God. 

May  we  approve  ourselves  the  sincere  disciples  of  Jesus,  by 
continuing  in  his  word,  and  being  faithful  even  unto  death,  as 
ever  we  expect  a  crown  of  life  !  (Rev.  ii.  10.)  Without  this, 
external  privileges  will  turn  to  but  little  account.  The  chil- 
dren of  Abraham  may  be  the  children  of  Satan;  and  they  are 
so,  if  they  imitate  the  temper  and  works  of  the  accursed  ^enc?, 
rather  than  of  the  holy  patriarch.  The  devil  was  from  the  be- 
ginning a  liar,  and  a  murderer ;  and  all  falsehood  and  malice 
are  from  him.  Let  us  earnestly  pray,  that  we  may  be  freed 
from  them,  and  from  the  tyranny  of  every  other  sin,  to  which 
we  have  been  enslaved  ;  that  Christ,  the  Son,  may  make  us  free 
of  his  Father's  family,  and  of  his  heavenly  kingdom  !  Then  we 
shall  be  free  indeed,  and  no  more  be  reduced  to  bondage. 

May  we  prove  that  we  are  the  children  of  God  by  our  readi- 
ness to  hear  and  receive  the  words  of  our  blessed  Redeemert  the 
words  of  incarnate  truth,  and  wisdom,  and  love  ;  whom  none  of 
his  enemies  could  ever  convict  of  sin,  nor  ever  accused  him  of 
it  but  to  their  own  confusion  !  May  we  resemble  him  in  the 
iunocence  and  holiness  of  his  life;  that  we  may  the  more  easily 
and  gracefully  imitate  that  ceurage  and  zeal,  with  which  he 
reproved  the  haughtiest  sinners,  and  bore  his  testimony  against 
the  errors  and  vices  of  that  degenerate  age  and  nation  in  which 
he  lived  ! 


SECTION  XXI. 

John  viii.  48 — 69. 

Then  answered  the  Jews,  and  said  unto  him,  Say  we 
not  well  that  thou  art  a  Samaritan,  and  hast  a  devil  ; 
Jesus  answered,  I  have  not  a  devil  ;  but  I  honour  ray 
Father,  and  ye  do  dishonour  me.  And  I  seek  not  mine 
own  glory  ;  there  is  one  that  seeketh  and  judgeth.  Ve- 
rily, verily,  I  say  unto  you,  If  a  man  keep  my  saying,  he 
shall  never  see  death.  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  him, 
now  we  know  that  thou  hast  a  devil.  Abraham  is  dead, 
and  the  prophets  ;  and  thou  sayest,  If  a  man  keep  my 
saying,  he  shall  never  taste  of  death.     Art  thou  greater 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  203 

than  our  father  Abraham,  which  is  dead  ?  and  the  pro- 
phets are  dead:  whom  makest  thou  thyself?  Jesu>  an- 
swered, if  I  honour  myself,  my  honour  is  nothing  ;  it  is 
my  Father  that  honoureth  me  ;  of  whom  ye  say,  that  he 
is  your  God  :  Yet  ye  have  not  known  him  ;  but  I  know 
him  :  and  if  I  should  say,  1  know  him  not,  I  should  be 
a  liar  Hke  unto  you  :  but  I  know  him,  and  keep  his  say- 
ing. Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced  to  see  my  day  .  and 
he  saw  it,  and  was  glad.  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  him, 
Thou  art  not  yet  fifty  years  old,  and  hast  thou  seen  Abra- 
ham ?  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you.  Before  Abraham  was,  1  ani.  Then  took  they  up 
stones  to  cast  at  him  :  but  Jesus  hid  himself,  and  went 
out  of  the  temple,  going  through  the  midst  of  them,  and 
so  passed  by. 


With  vfhs.i  patience  did  our  blessed  Redeemer  bear,  and  with 
what  meekness  of  wisdom  did  he  answer  the  most  virulent  and 
opprobrious  language  !  When  he  was  rudely  charged  with 
being  a  Samaritan  and  having  a  demon,  he  endured  the  contra- 
diction of  sinners  against  himself  (Heb.  xii.  3.)  and  being  thus 
reviUd,  he  reviled  not  again,  (1  Pet.  ii.  23.)  And  shall  we  too 
keenly  resent  the  refieclions  which  are  thrown  upon  us  !  May 
but  our  conscience  witness  for  us,  and  we  need  not  fear  all  that 
are  against  us ! 

Christ  honoured  his  father,  and  sought  not  his  own  glory.  So 
may  we  be  careful  of  the  honour  of  God,  and  cheerfully  com- 
mit to  him  the  guardianship  and  care  of  our  reputation  1  And 
we  shall  find,  there  is  one  that  seeketh  and  judgethin  our  favour. 

It  is  a  great  and  important  promise  which  our  Lord  here 
makes,  If  any  one  keep  my  ivord,  he  shall  never  see  death.  Sense 
seems  to  plead  against  it ;  but  he  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life, 
and  hath  assured  us,  he  will  make  it  good.  Let  us  therefore 
be  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God :  (Rom.  iv.  20.)  Though 
not  only  Abraham  and  the  prophets,  but  Pe/erand  PauZ,  and  the 
other  apostles  are  dead,  yet  this  word  shall  be  gloriously  accom- 
plished. Still  they  live  to  him  and  shortly  shall  they  be  for 
ever  recovered  from  the  power  of  the  grave  :  so  that  death  is  to 
them  comparatively  as  nothing.  With  them  may  our  final  por- 
tion be,  and  we  may  set  light  by  the  reproaches,  clamours,  and 
accusations  of  prejudiced,  ignorant  and  sinful  men  ! 

Adored  be  that  gracious  Providence  that  determined  our  ex- 


204  HARMONY    OF    THE 

istence  to  begin  in  that  happy  day  which  prophets  and  patriarchs 
desired  to  see,  and  in  the  distant  view  of  which  Abraham  re- 
joieed  I 

Let  it  be  also  our  joy :  for  Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday^ 
to-day,  and  for  ever ;  nor  could  the  heart  of  those  holy  men  fully 
conceive  those  things^  which  God  had  prepared  for  them  that  love 
him,  and  which  he  has  now  revealed  unto  us  by  his  Spirit.  (1  Cor. 
ii.  9,  10.) 


SECTION  XXIL 

John  ix.  1 — 23. 

And  as  Jesus  passed  by,  he  saw  a  man  which  was  blind 
from  his  birth.  And  his  disciples  asked  him,  saying, 
Master,  who  did  sin,  this  man,  or  his  parents,  that  he 
was  born  blind  ?  Jesus  answered.  Neither  hath  this 
man  sinned,  nor  his  parents :  but  that  the  works  of  God 
should  be  made  manifest  in  him.  1  must  work  the 
works  of  him  that  sent  me,  while  it  is  day :  the  night 
Cometh,  when  no  man  can  work.  As  long  as  I  am  in 
the  world,  lam  the  light  of  the  world.  When  he  had 
thus  spoken,  he  spat  on  the  ground,  and  made  clay  of 
the  spittle,  and  he  anointed  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man 
with  the  clay,  and  said  unto  him  Go,  wash  in  the  pool  of 
Siloam,  (which  is  by  interpretation.  Sent.)  He  went 
his  way  therefore,  and  washed,  and  came  seeing. 

The  neighbours  therefore,  and  they  which  before  had 
seen  him  that  was  blind,  said,  Is  not  this  he  that  sat  and 
begged  ?  Some  said.  This  is  he :  others  said,  He  is 
like  him  :  but  he  said,  I  am  he.  Therefore  said  they 
unto  him.  How  were  thine  eyes  opened  ?  He  answered 
and  said,  A  man  that  is  called  Jesus  made  clay,  and 
anointed  mine  eyes,  and  said  unto  mc.  Go  to  the  pool  of 
Siloam,  and  wash  :  and  T  went  and  washed,  and  I  re- 
ceived sight.  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Where  is  he  ? 
He  said,  I  know  not.  They  brought  to  the  Pharisees 
him  that  aforetime  was  blind.  And  it  was  the  Sabbath- 
day  when  Jesus  made  the  clay  and  opened  his  eyes. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  206 

Then  again  the  Pharisees  also  asked  him,  How  he  had 
received  his  sight  ?  He  said  unto  (hem,  He  put  clay 
upon  mine  eyes,  and  I  washed,  and  do  see.  Therefore 
said  some  of  the  Pharisees,  This  man  is  not  of  God, 
because  he  keepeth  not  the  Sabbath-day.  Others  said, 
How  can  a  man  that  is  a  sinner  do  such  miracles  ?  And 
there  was  a  division  among  them.  They  say  unto  the 
blind  man  again,  What  sayest  thou  ot  him,  that  he  hath 
opened  thine  eyes  ?  He  said,  He  is  a  prophet.  But 
the  Jews  did  not  believe  concerning  him,  that  he  had 
been  blind,  and  received  his  sight,  until  they  called  the 
parents  of  him  that  had  received  his  sight.  And  they 
asked  them,  saying,  Is  this  your  son,  who  ye  say  was 
born  blind  ?  how  then  doth  he  now  see  ?  His  parent? 
answered  them  and  said,  We  know  that  this  is  our  son, 
and  that  he  was  born  blind  :  but  by  what  means  he  now 
seeth,  we  know  not :  or  who  hath  opened  his  eyes, 
we  know  not :  he  is  of  age;  ask  him  :  he  shall  speak 
for  !)imself  These  irords  spake  his  parents,  because 
they  feared  the  Jews  :  for  the  Jews  had  agreed  already, 
that  if  any  man  did  confess  that  he  was  Christ,  he 
should  be  put  out  of  the  synagogue.  Therefore  said 
his  parents,  He  is  of  age  ;  ask  him. 

Oh  that  the  zeal  of  our  great  Master  mi^ht  quicken  us,  his 
too  negligent  servants  !  Still  is  he  Ihe  light  of  the  world,  by  his 
doctrines,  precepts,  and  example.  iVIay  our  eyes  by  Divine 
grace  be  opened  to  see,  and  our  hearts  be  disposed  to  love  and 
to  follow  this  light  I  It  was  a  governing  maxim  with  him,  and 
he  meant  it  also  for  our  admonition,  /  mvst  work  the  works  of 
him  that  sent  me  while  it  is  day ;  the  night  cometh,  wherein  no 
man  can  work.  We  are  sent  into  the  world  on  an  important 
errand,  to  work  out  our  own  salvation,  and  that  of  others  :  may 
we  improve  the  present  day  ;  and  so  much  the  rather,  as  we  see 
ihe  night  approaching!  On  some  Ihe  shadows  of  the  evening 
are  already  drawing  on  ;  and  as  to  oU^ers,  their  sun  may  go 
down  at  noon.  Let  us  therefore,  waving  me  curiosity  of  unprofit- 
able speculators,  apply  ourselves  seriously  to  the  business  of  life, 
and  zealously  seize  every  opportunity  of  usefulness. 

Our  Lord,  as  it  should  seem  unasked,  and  by  the  person  on 
whom  it  was  wrought  unknown,  performed  this  important  and 
extraordinary  cure.  And  the  manner  in  which  he  did  it  is  wor- 
thy of  notice  :  he  anointed  his  eyes  with  clay,  and  then  comman- 

19 


206  HARMONV     OF    THE 

ded  him  to  wash.  Clay  laid  on  the  eye-lids  might  almost  blind 
a  man  that  had  sight;  but  what  could  it  do  towards  curing 
blindness?  It  reminds  us  thai  God  is  no  farther  from  the  ac- 
complishment of  any  purpose  or  event  when  he  works  with, 
than  without  means  ;  and  tha*^  all  the  creatures  are  only  that 
which  his  almighty  operation  makes  them. 

The  blind  man  believed,  and  received  the  immediate  benefit 
of  it.  Had  he  reasoned,  like  jYaaman  on  the  impropriety  of 
the  means,  he  had  justly  been  leit  in  Jaikness.  Lord,  may  our 
proud  hearts  be  subdued  to  the  methods  of  thy  recovering 
.  grace !  And  may  we  leave  it  to  thee  to  choose  how  thou  wilt 
bestow  favours,  which  it  is  our  highest  interest  on  any  terms  to 
receive. 

It  must  be  a  satisfaction  to  every  true  Christian  to  observe 
the  curiosity  and  exactness  with  which  these  Pharisees  inqui- 
red into  the  miracles  of  Christ,  and  how  thoroughly  they  can- 
vassed every  circumstance  of  them.  A  truth  like  this  need  not 
fear  any  examination.  Every  new  witness  which  they  heard 
confirmed  the  case,  and  confounded  the  obstinacy  of  their  unbe- 
lief.— But  surely  the  weakness  of  the  parents  was  very  pitiable, 
who,  in  the  midst  of  the  evidence  and  obligation  of  such  a  mir- 
acle,  were  more  afraid  of  incurring  a  human  sentence  than  of 
ofiending  God,  by  failing  to  own  so  great  a  favour,  and  to  con- 
fess the  blessed  Person  by  whom  it  was  wrought.  The  fear  of 
man  bringeth  a  snare,  (Prov.  xxix.  25  ;)  but  they  whose  eyes 
Christ  has  opened  in  a  spiritual  sense  will  see  a  glory  and  ex- 
cellence in  him  which  will  animate  them  boldly  to  bear  their 
testimony  to  him,  in  defiance  of  all  the  censures  which  men  can 
pass,  or  of  all  the  penalties  by  which  they  can  enforce  them. 

SECTION  XXIII. 

John  ix.  24—38. 

Then  again  called  they  the  man  that  was  blind,  and  said 
unto  him,  Give  God  the  praise  :  we  know  that  this  man 
is  a  sinner.  He  answered  and  said,  Whether  he  be  a 
sinner  or  no,  I  know,  not :  one  thing  I  know,  that,  where- 
as I  was  bhnd,  now  I  see.  Then  said  they  to  him 
again,  What  did  he  to  thee  ?  how  opened  he  thine  eyes  ? 
He  answered  them  I  have  told  you  already,  and  ye  did 
not  hear  :  wherefore  would  ye  hear  it  again  ?  will  ye 
also  be  his  disciples  ?  Then  they  reviled  him,  and  said, 
Thou  art  his  disciple  ;  but  we  are  Moses'  disciples.   We 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  207 

know  that  God  spake  unto  Moses :  as  for  this  fellow, 
we  know  not  from  whence  he  is.  The  man  answered 
and  said  unto  them,  Why  herein  is  a  marvellous  thing, 
that  ye  know  not  from  whence  he  is,  and  yet  he  hath 
opened  mine  eyes.  Now  we  know  that  God  hearcth  not 
sinners  :  but  if  any  man  be  a  worshipper  of  God,  and 
doeth  his  will,  him  he  heareth.  Since  the  world  began 
was  it  not  heard  that  any  man  opened  the  eyes  of  one 
that  was  born  blind.  If  this  man  were  not  of  God,  he 
could  do  nothing.  They  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
Thou  wast  altogether  born  in  sins,  and  dost  thou  teach 
us  ?     And  they  cast  him  out, 

Jesus  heard  that  they  had  cast  him  out ;  and  when  he 
had  found  him,  he  said  unto  him,  Dost  thou  believe  on 
the  Son  of  God?  He  answered  and  said,  Who  is  he, 
Lord,  that  I  might  believe  on  him  ?  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him.  Thou  hast  both  seen  him,  and  it  is  he  that 
talketh  with  thee.  And  he  said,  Lord,  I  beheve.  And 
he  worshipped  him. 

So  little  does  truth  tear  repeated  examination  ;  and  thus  does 
it,  after  every  trial,  comt  forth  like  pure  gold  out  ol  the  furnaee. 
So  did  this  miracle  of  Christ  appear  to  these  subtile  adversaries, 
90  will  the  Christian  cause  appear  to  all  who  will  diligently 
search  into  its  evidence. 

Who  can  forbear  wondering  at  the  obstinacy  of  these  Phari- 
sees;  and,  on  the  same  principles,  at  that  of  the  present  Jews, 
who,  while  they  acknowledge  that  God  spake  by  Moses,  because 
he  wrought  miracles,  will  not,  on  the  evidence  of  yet  more  va- 
rious and  glorious  miracles,  and  those  attested  beyond  all  con- 
tradiction, acknowledge  the  authority  of  the  Son  of  God  him- 
self.? 

But  we  see  this  poor  illiterate  oreature  (for  such  he  undoubt- 
edly was,)  with  the  advantage  of  truth  on  his  side,  baffles  all 
the  sophistry  of  his  most  learned  antagonists.  Great  is  the  truth, 
and  it  will  prevail.  Great  is  this  truth,  so  fundamental  to  the 
gospel,  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God:  and  this  also,  which 
is  so  important  to  natural  religion  and  revealed,  that  God  hear- 
eth not  sinners  ;  but  if  any  man  be  a  worshipper  of  God,  and  do 
his  will,  him  he  hears^  and  most  favourably  regards.  iVlav  we  be 
truly  devout,  and  add  to  our  devotion  an  obedient  regard  to  the 
Divine  will,  and  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  will  be  upon  us,  and  his 
ears  be  open  to  our  cry  I  (Psalm  zxxiv.  15.)     Then,  beings  fa- 


208  hakmony  of  the 

vourably  owned  of  God,  we  shall  have  no  reason  to  fear  the 
censures  oi  men.  If  they  cast  us  out,  Christ  will  receive  us,  and 
perhaps  reveal  himself  to  us  with  more  freedom,  in  proportion 
to  the  injuries  we  sustain  from  them. 

SECTION    XXIV. 
John  ix.  39 — 41,  x.  1 — 10. 

And  Jesus  said,  For  judgment  I  am  come  into  this  world, 
that  they  which  see  not  might  see  ;  and  that  they  which 
see  might  be  made  blind.  And  some  of  the  Pharisees 
which  were  with  him  heard  these  words,  and  said  unto 
him.  Are  we  blind  also  ?  Jesus  said  unto  them,  If  ye 
were  blind,  ye  should  have  no  sin  :  but  now  ye  say,  We 
see  ;  therefore  your  sin  remaineth. 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  entereth  not  by 
the  door  into  the  sheepfold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other 
way,  the  same  is  a  thief  or  a  robber.  But  he  that  en- 
tereth in  by  the  door  is  the  shepherd  of  the  sheep.  To 
him  the  porter  openeth  ;  and  the  sheep  hear  his  voice : 
and  he  calleth  his  own  sheep  by  name,  and  leadeth  them 
out ;  and  when  he  putteth  forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth 
before  them,  and  the  sheep  follow  him  :  for  they  know 
his  voice.  And  a  stranger  will  they  not  follow,  but 
will  flee  from  him  :  for  they  know  not  the  voice  of  stran- 
gers. This  parable  spake  Jesus  unto  them  :  but  they 
understood  not  Avhat  things  they  were  which  he  spake 
unto  them.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  again,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  am  the  door  of  the  sheep.  All 
that  ever  came  before  me  are  thieves  and  robbers :  but 
the  sheep  did  not  hear  them.  I  am  the  door:  by  me  if 
any  man  enter  in,  he  shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and 
out,  and  find  pasture.  The  thief  cometh  not,  but  for 
to  steal,  and  to  kill,  and  to  destroy :  I  am  come  that 
they  might  have  life,  and  that  they  might  have  it  more 
abundantly. 

Let  us  hear,  with  an  holy  awe  on  our  spirits  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  for  purposes  oi  judgmen  as 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  209 

well  as  of  mtTfj/,  anj  m.*ke  it  our  humble  prayer  that  we  may 
b*^  enligktfiud  by  him,  and  not  sealed  up  vinder  agg;ravated 
darkness,  as  a  punishment  fur  our  ob«tina<y  and  impenitence; 
for  then  all  the  means  of  knowledge  which  we  have  so  basely 
perverted  will  rise  up  to  condemn  us. 

Let  Christ  be  regarded  by  us  as  the  door  from  whom  all  true 
teachers  derive  their  authority,  and  to  whom  they  direct  their 
administrations :  and  let  it  be  our  care  that  we  enter  by  this  door. 
Letiuferior  shepherds  learn  their  duty,  so  plainly  suggested  here} 
let  them  learn  to  know  their  sheep,  and  take  as  particular  no- 
tice as  they  can  of  each  single  person  cummitted  to  their  care; 
and  let  them  go  before  them  in  all  the  j  alhs  ol  duty  :  for  what 
could  the  greatest  enemy  to  the  flock  do  worse  than  to  lead 
them  by  example  into  the  paths  of  destruction? 

Happy  souls,  who  are  entered  in  by  this  gate!  Their  safety, 
their  comfort,  is  secure  ;  they  enjoy  a  holy  liberty  and  plenty, 
and  going  in  and  comtng  out  they  Jind pasture.  It'  we  are  stran- 
gers to  that  entertainmerit  and  refreshment  which  arises  from 
ordinances  (those  greni  pastures  which  Christ  hath  provided  for 
his  sheep  in  the  wilderness,)  we  have  a  great  deal  of  reason  to 
fear  that  we  belong  not  to  his  flock.  He  came  that  his  sheep 
might  have  life^  and  that  they  migh  have  it  more  abundantly  ; 
that  greater  provision  might  be  made  for  their  instruction  and 
consolation  now,  till  they  are  brought  to  those  better  pastures  he 
intends  for  them  above:  May  his  grace  prepare  us  for  them  ! 
and  his  hand  will  certainly  conduct  us  to  them  ;  nor  need  we 
fear  the  darkest  passage  in  our  way. 

SECTION  XXV. 

John  x.  1 1 — 21. 

I  AM  the  good  shepherd  :  the  good  shepherd  giveth  his 
life  for  the  sheep.  But  he  that  is  an  hireling,  and  not 
the  shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are  not,  seeth  the 
wolf  coming,  and  leaveth  the  sheep,  and  fleeth  :  and  the 
wolf  catcheth  them,  and  scattereth  the  sheep.  The 
hireling  fleeth,  because  he  is  an  hireling,  and  careth  not 
for  the  sheep.  I  am  the  good  Shepherd,  and  know  my 
sheep,  and  am  known  of  mine.  As  the  Father  knoweth 
me,  even  so  know  I  the  Father:  and  I  lay  down  my  life 
for  the  sheep.  And  other  sheep  I  have,  which  are  not 
of  this  fold  :  them  also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear 
my  voice  :   and  there  shall  be  one  fold,  and  one  shep- 

19* 


210  HARMONY    OF    THE 

herd.  Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me,  becsiuse 
I  lay  down  my  Hfe,  that  I  may  take  it  again.  No  man 
taketh  it  from  me  ;  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myself.  I  have 
power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again. 
This  commandment  have  I  received  of  my  Father. 

There  was  a  division  therefore  again  among  the  Jews 
for  these  sayings.  And  many  of  them  said,  He  hath  a 
devil,  and  is  mad  ;  why  hear  ye  him  ?  Others  said,  these 
are  not  the  words  of  him  that  hath  a  devil.  Can  a  devil 
open  the  eyes  of  the  blind  ? 


There  is  not,  perhaps,  any  where  to  be  found  a  greater  in- 
stance of  the  force  o{  prejudice  ihixn  in  these  perverse  Jtus,  who 
censured  Christ  as  a  lunatic  and  a  demoniac  for  one  of  the  gra- 
vest and  most  excellent  speeches  that  was  ever  delivered.  Let 
us  review  it  with  all  due  attention  and  regard. 

Let  us  consider  Christ  a?  the  good  Shepherd.,  and  humbly 
comrait  our  souls  to  him,  as  ever  we  desire  they  should  be  safe 
and  happy.  We  have  known  his  kind  regards  to  (he  flock  in 
exposing  and  Iteming  down  his  life  for  them.  And  he  hath  not 
laid  it  down  in  \ain.  Delightful  thought  I  Our  compassionate 
Shepherd^  even  when  the  sword  of  the  Lord  was  awakened  to 
smite  him.,  has  not  so  fallen  as  to  rise  no  more  ;  but  in  this  great 
and  good  work  he  voluntarily  laid  doivn.,  so  he  has  alsu  re-as- 
sumed his  life;  and  still  bears  on  his  heart  the  same  concern  for 
his  flock,  and  uses  his  renewed  life  and  exalted  dignity  for  their 
security  and  happiness. 

Let  us  humbly  aeknoivledge  him  as  acknowledged  by  the  Father: 
let  us  courageously  and  gratefully  own  him,  and  be  ready  to  lay 
down  our  lives  also  for  him.  We  are  those  other  sheep,  of  whom 
he  spake,  who  were  not  originally  of  the  fold,  but  by  his  grace 
are  now  brought  in  to  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls. 
Let  us  pray  that  the  boundaries  of  his  fold  may  be  stdl  more 
extended,  and  the  whole  number  of  his  elect  accomplished; 
that  all  the  flock  may  at  length  appear  together,  and  may  be 
conduct'  d  by  him  to  the  regions  of  that  immortal  life  which  he 
determines  to  give  it. 

In  the  mean  time  let  its  maintain  all  proper  regards  to  him, 
and  especially  the  most  cheerful  confidence  in  his  care;  repeat- 
ing with  evangelical  views,  and  so  with  a  peculiar  sublimity  of 
sense,  those  words  of  David  as  our  own,  (Psalm  xxiii.  1 — 4.) 
*'The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  I  shall  not  want :  he  maketh  me 
to    lie    down    in   green    pastures ;  he  leadeth  me  beside   the 


FOUU    GOSPELS.  211 

still  waters  :  he  restoreth  my  soul  :  he  leadeth  nie  in  the  paths 
of  righteousness  for  his  name's  sake:  yea,  though  I  walk 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  1  will  tear  no  evil,  ibr 
thou  art  with  me ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff,  they  comfort  me.'" 

SECTION  XXVI. 

John  x.  22 — 42. 

And  it  was  at  Jerusalem  the  feast  of  the  dedication,  and 
it  was  winter.  And  Jesus  walked  in  the  temple  in 
yolomon's  porch.  Then  came  the  Jews  round  about 
him,  and  said  unto  him.  How  long  dost  thou  make  us  to 
doubt  ?  If  thou  be  the  Christ,  tell  us  plainly.  Jesus 
answered  them,  I  told  you,  and  ye  believed  not :  tlie 
works  that  I  do  in  my  Father's  name,  they  bear  witness 
of  me.  But  ye  believe  not,  because  ye  are  not  of  my 
sheep,  as  I  said  unto  you.  My  sheep  hear  my  voice, 
and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me;  and  1  give  unto 
them  eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither 
shall  any  man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.  My  Father 
which  gave  them  me,  is  greater  than  all  ;  and  no  man 
is  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  my  Father's  hand.  I  and 
my  Father  are  one. 

Then  the  Jews  took  up  stones  again  to  stone  him. 
Jesus  answered  them.  Many  good  works  have  1  shew- 
ed you  from  my  Father  ;  for  which  of  those  works  do 
ye  stone  me  ?  The  Jesivs  answered  him,  saying,  For  a 
good  work  we  stone  thee  not  ;  but  for  blasphemy  ;  and 
because  that  thou,  being  a  man,  makest  thyself  God. 
Jesus  answered  them,  Is  it  not  written  in  your  law,  I 
said  ye  are  gods  ?  If  he  called  them  gods,  unto  whom 
the  word  of  God  came,  and  the  scripture  cannot  be 
broken  ;  Say  ye  of  him  whom  the  Father  hath  sanctified, 
and  sent  into  the  world,  Thou  blasphemest  ;  because  I 
said,  I  am  the  Son  of  God  ?  If  I  do  not  the  works  of 
my  Father,  believe  me  not.  But  if  I  do,  though  ye 
believe  not  me,  believe  the  works  :  that  ye  may  know, 
and  believe,  that  the  Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in  him. 


215J  HARMOjNY  OF  THE 

Therefore  they  sought  again  to  lake  him  :  but  he 
escaped  out  of  their  hand,  and  went  away  again  beyond 
Jordan  into  the  place  where  John  at  first  baptized  :  and 
there  he  abode.  And  many  resorted  unto  him,  and 
said,  John  did  no  miracle  :  but  all  things  that  John 
spake  of  this  man  were  true.  And  many  believed  him 
there. 


It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  we  here  see  our  Lord  Jesus  at  a 
festival,  appointed  only  by  human  authority,  in  commemoration 
of  a  national  deliverance.  He  came  from  Galilee  to  observe  it 
in  the  temple,  though  it  was  winter ;  and  brought  with  him,  as 
at  all  times,  a  heart  glowing  with  the  most  ardent  and  amiable 
zeal,  fur  the  honour  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  men,  even  of 
those  who  were  studying  to  insnare  and  destroy  him. 

What  prudence,  mingled  with  spirit  and  sweetness,  runs 
XYixovLgh  his  answer  io  \herti\  What  inestimable  blessings  Aoes 
he  propose,  to  invite  them  to  enter  into  his  fold !  May  we 
never  forget  these  gracious  words  !  May  we  ever  be  entitled 
to  all  the  comfort  of  them  !  I  give  unto  my  sheep  eternal  life; 
and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of 
my  hand.  Lord,  may  we  be  found  in  the  number  of  (hose  se- 
cure and  happy  souls,  even  of  those  who  know  thee,  and  who 
obey  thy  voice  and  follow  thee,  whithersoever  Ihou  leadest  them  by 
thine  example,  thy  Providence,  and  thy  Spirit !  Then  may  we 
look  on  our  eternal  life  and  happiness,  as  inviolably  secure. 
Safely  indeed  may  we  trust  it  in  his  hands,  who  could  say,  in 
so  sublime,  and  so  glorious  a  sense,  land  the  Father  are  one. 
The  enemies  of  our  salvation  must  triumph  then  over  Omnipo- 
tence itself,  before  they  can  wrest  the  sheep  of  Christ  out  qfhis 
hands ;  nor  will  his  fidelity  to  God,  or  his  love  to  them,  suffer  them 
to  be  seduced  by  fraud  any  more  than  destroyed  by  violence. 

Blessed  situation  of  thy  little  flock!  O  thou  faithful,  th^ou 
compassionate,  thou  Almighty  Shepherd,  gather  thou  our  souls 
with  theirs  ;  and  never  suffer  us  to  forget  of  how  great  impor- 
tance it  is,  that  we  still  continue  near  thee,  that  we  look  up  to 
thee  for  our  defence  and  safety,  and  confide  not  in  our  own 
power  and  wisdom,  but  in  thine  ! 

Who  could  have  imagined,  that  any  heart  could  have  been 
8o  base  as  to  have  intended  evil,  or  any  hands  io  cruel,  as  to  have 
armed  themselves  with  instruments  of  death,  against  such  a  per- 
son, while  speaking  such  words  as  these?  Yet  behold,  these 
Jews  do  it ;  and  that  even  in  so  sacred  a  place,  as  the  temple  it- 
self; as  the  genuine  offspring  of  those ^  who  slew  the  prophet  and 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  2l3 

priest  of  the  Lord^  even  at  his  altar.  (Compare  Matt,  xxiii.  31, 
is.  and  Luke  xi.  48,51.)  bul  his  wise  and  gentle  re/)/j/ disarmed 
them  lor  a  few  months;  and  the  Divine  care  and  power  in  an 
extraordinary  manner  provided  lor  his  escape.,  and  once  more 
rescued  him  from  their  murderous  hands. 

Happy  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  about  Jordan^  to  which 
he  retired  !  especially  happy,  in  that  they  knew  the  day  of 
their  visitatioTi  I  The  testimony  of  John  the  Baptist  is  now  re- 
collected to  excellent  purposes,  though  he  himself  was  moulder- 
ing: in  his  tomb  :  nor  is  there  any  thing-,  which  a  faithful  JVlin- 
isttr  will  more  earnestly  desire,  than  that  even  while  dead  he 
may  yet  speak,  for  the  honour  of  Christ,  and  the  salvation  of 
souls. 


SECTION  XXVII. 

John  xi.  1  —  ]6. 

Now  a  certain  man  was  sick,  named  Lazarus,  of  Be- 
thany, the  town  of  Maiy  and  her  sister  Martlia  (It 
was  that  Mary  which  anointed  the  Lord  witli  ointment, 
and  wiped  his  feet  with  her  hair,  whose  brother  Laza- 
rus was  sick.)  Therefore  his  sisters  sent  unto  him,  say- 
injT,  Lord,  heholtl,  he  wlioin  thou  lovest  is  sick.  When 
Jesus  heard  that,  he  said,  this  sickness  is  not  unto  death, 
but  for  the  glory  of  God,  that  the  Son  of  God  might  be 
glorified  thereby.  Now  Jesus  loved  Martha,  and  her 
sister,  and  Lazarus.  When  he  had  heard  therefore 
that  he  was  sick,  he  abode  two  days  stil!  in  the  same 
place  where  he  was.  Then  after  that  saith  he  to  his 
disciples,  Let  us  go  into  Judea  again.  His  disciples 
say  unto  him,  Master,  the  Jews  of  late  sought  to  stone 
thee  :  and  goesl  thou  thither  again  ?  Jesus  answered, 
Are  there  not  twelve  hours  in  the  day  ?  If  any  man 
walk  in  the  day,  he  stumbleth  not,  because  he  seeth  the 
light  of  this  world.  But  if  a  man  walk  in  the  niglit,  he 
stumbleth,  because  there  is  no  light  in  him  These 
things  said  he  :  and  after  that  he  saith  unto  them,  Our 
friend  Lazareth  sleepeth  ;  but  I  go  that  I  may  awake 
him  out  of  sleep.     Then  said  his  disciples,  Lord,  if  he 


214  HARMONY    OF    THE 

sleep,  he  shall  do  well.  Howbeit  Jesus  spake  of  bis 
death  :  but  they  thought  that  he  had  spoken  of  taking 
of  rest  in  sleep.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  plainly, 
Lazarus  is  dead.  And  I  am  glad  for  your  sakes  that  I 
was  not  there,  to  the  intent  ye  may  believe  ;  neverthe- 
less let  us  go  unio  hitn.  Then  said  Thomas,  which  is 
called  Didynius,  unto  his  fellow-disciples.  Let  us  also  go, 
that  we  mav  die  with  him. 


How  happy  was  this  fan»ily  of  Lazarus  in  which  Christ  was  so 
trequent  a  ^iiesi  1  how  happy  Lazarus  and  his  sisters,  who  were 
so  peculiarly  beloved  by  him !  Yet  sickness  and  death  invaded 
that  family;  and  this  excellent  man,  as  it  should  seem,  in  flour- 
ishing circuuistrinces  (ver.  19,)  and  perhaps  too  in  early  youth, 
was  snatched  away,  on  a  sudden,  by  what  appeared  a  very  un- 
timely stroke.  Ihe  friends  of  Christ  must  be  sick,  and  die,  as 
well  as  others;  and  no  man  knoweth  either  love,  or  hatred,  by  all 
that  is  bejore  them  under  the  sun  ;  (EccJes.  ix.  1.)  Let  us  there- 
fore /waJo-e  nothing  before  the  time  ;  (1  Cor.  iv.  6.)  This  sickness 
and  deaf /i  of  Lazarus  was /or  the  ^lory  of  God :  and  may  all  our 
personal  and  domestic  sufferings  be  so !  To  this,  O  Lord,  may 
our  life  be  consecrated,  and  to  this  may  our  death  be  subservient  I 
We  shall  not  then  feel  our  dying  pangs  in  half  iheir  bitterness, 
when  our  hearts  are  inflamed  with  a  zeal  for  thy  glory,  and  when 
we  see  that  even  those  pangs  are  promoting  it. 

Our  Lord  delayed  his  coming  to  this  dear  friend  in  his  extre- 
mity :  and  perhaps  it  occasioned,  not  only  many  an  anxious,  but 
loany  a  suspicious  thought,  both  to  Lazarus  and  his  sisters;  yet 
the  intent  of  this  delay  was  both  gracious  and  important.  Let  us 
not  limit  our  Divine  Master  as  to  the  time  or  manner  of  his  ap- 
pearance for  us :  let  us  not  censure  him  if  it  be  tor  a  while  put  off. 
It  is  to  exeicise  our  faith  and  patience,  and  to  make  the  mercy 
more  signal  and  more  welcome. 

At  length  a  resolution  is  formed  to  go  into  Judea  ;  though  but 
a  little  while  ago  the  Jews  had  assaulted  him,  even  in  a  sacred 
place,  with  burning  malice  in  their  hearts,  aud  the  instruments  of 
death  in  their  hands.  But  when  Providence  called,  none  of  these 
things  could  move  our  blessed  Redeemer,  neither  counted  he  his 
life  dear  unto  him,  that  he  might  finish  his  course  with  joy. 
(Acts  XX.  24.)  May  we  shew  the  like  intrepidity  of  our  soul  in 
his  service  !  walking  in  the  day,  that  we  may  not  stumble,  anil 
taking  all  proper  opportunities  ol  performing  the  duties  of  life  while 
the  season  of  it  lasts  ;  and  then,  when  the  night  of  death  comes,  it 
will  close  our  eyes  in  peaceful  slumbers.  The  repose  of  the 
breathless  corpse,  insensible  of  alarms,  and  sorrows,  and  cares, 
will  be  a  lovely  emblem  of  the  sweeter  repose  of  the  soul  in  the 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  215 

arms  of  Divine  love,  till  ere  long  Christ  shall  come  to  awaken  tis 
out  of  our  sleep  by  that  general  resurrection  of  which  this  of  La- 
zarus was  a  figure  and  pledge. 

Let  these  glorious  thoughts  ^nd  expectations  animate  us  to  all 
the  returns  of  affection,  <iutj',  and  zeal.  Let  them  teach  us  the 
temper  of  T/jomos  when  he  said,  L.et  us  go  and  die  with  him. 
"Blessed  Jesus.'  how  much  better  is  it  to  die  with  and  for  thee, 
who  art  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  than  to  piolong  these 
wretched  days  of  absence,  meanness,  and  affliction,  by  forsaking 
thee  when  thou  art  leading  us  into  danger ! " 


SECTlOiN  XXVIII. 

John  xi.  17 — 46. 

Thetn  when  Jesus  came,  he  found  that  lie  iiad  htin  in 
the  grave  four  days  already.  Now  Bethany  was  nigh 
unto  Jerusalem,  about  fifteen  furlongs  of!*;  And  many  of 
the  Jews  came  to  Martha  and  Mary,  to  comfi-jrt  them 
concernnig  their  brother.  Then  Martha,  as  soon  as  she 
heard  thai  Jesus  was  corning,  went  and  met  him :  but 
Mary  sat  still  in  the  house.  Then  said  Martha  unto 
Jesus,  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother  had 
not  died.  But  I  know,  that  even  now,  whatsoever 
thou  wilt  ask  of  God,  God  will  g'lveit  thee.  Jesus  saith 
unto  her.  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again.  Martha  saith 
unto  him,  I  know  that  he  shall  rise  again  in  the  resur- 
rection at  the  last  day.  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  1  am  the 
resurrection  and  the  life  :  he  that  believeth  in  me, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live  :  and  whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die.  Believest 
thou  this  ?  She  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  :  I  believe 
that  thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  which  should 
come  into  the  world.  And  when  she  had  so  said,  she 
went  her  way,  and  called  Mary  her  sister  secretly,  say- 
ing. The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee.  As 
soon  as  she  heard  that,  she  arose  quickly,  and  came  unto 


216  ,  HARMONY  OF  THE 

him.  Now  Jesus  was  not  yet  come  into  the  town,  but 
was  in  that  place  where  Martha  met  him.  The  Jews 
then  which  were  with  her  in  the  house,  and  comforted 
her,  when  they  saw  Mary,  that  she  arose  up  hastily  and 
went  out,  followed  her,  saying,  She  goeth  unto  the 
grave  to  weep  there.  Then  when  Mary  was  come 
where  Jesus  was,  and  saw  him,  she  fell  down  at  his  feet, 
saying  unto  him,  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my 
brother  had  not  died.  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  her 
weeping,  and  the  Jews  also  weeping  which  came  with 
her,  he  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  was  troubled,  and 
said,  Where  have  ye  laid  him  ?  They  said  unto  him, 
Lord,  come  and  see.  Jesus  wept.  Then  said  the 
Jews,  Behold  how  he  loved  him  !  And  some  of  them 
said,  could  not  this  man,  which  opened  the  eyes  of  the 
blind,  have  caused  that  even  this'man  should  not  have 
died  ?  Jesus  therefore  again  groaning  in  himself  cometh 
to  the  grave.  It  was  a  cave,  and  a  stone  lay  upon  it. 
Jesug  said.  Take  ye  away  the  stone.  Maitha,  the  sister 
of  him  that  was  dead,  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  by  this 
lime  he  stinketh  :  for  he  hath  been  dead  four  days. 
Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Said  I  not  unto  thee,  that,  if  thou 
wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God  ? 
Then  they  took  away  the  stone  from  the  place  where 
the  dead  was  laid.  And  Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
said,  Father,  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me  : 
And  1  knew  that  thou  hearest  me  always  :  but  because 
of  the  people  which  stand  by  I  said  it,  that  they  may 
believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  when  he  thus  had 
spoken,  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  Lazarus,  come 
forth.  And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth,  bound  hand 
and  foot  with  grave-clothes  :  and  his  face  was  bound 
about  with  a  napkin.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Loose 
him,  and  let  him  go.  Then  many  of  the  Jews  which 
came  to  Mary,  and  had  seen  the  things  which  Jesus 
did,  believed  on  him.  But  some  of  them  went  their 
ways  to  the  Pharisees,  and  told  them  what  things  Jesus 
had  done. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  2l7 

Let  us  by  faith  continually  regard  Jesits  (as  his  discourses  and 
actions  concur  to  represent  him)  as  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ; 
believing  on  this  glorious  specimen  here  given  of  it,  that  he  can, 
and  will  finally  cause  all  that  are  in  the  graves  to  hear  his  voice, 
and  to  come  forth,  (John  v.  28,  29.)  A  most  delightful  thought, 
which  we  should  often  apply  both  to  ourselves  and  to  our  pious 
friends!  Let  the  consideration,  that  they  are  to  arise  in  the  re- 
surrection at  the  last  day,  moderate  our  sorrows  for  their  removal, 
and  forbid  our  mourning  as  others  that  have  no  hope.  ( 1  Thess. 
iv.  13.)  Were  a  resurrection  on  earth  expected,  though  at  the 
distance  of  several  years,  we  should  consider  them  only  as  per- 
sons absent  on  a  long  journey,  and  expected  thei-r  return  with 
patience  and  cheerfulness :  but  oh,  how  much  more  certain  is  the 
resurrection  of  the  just  than  the  issue  of  any  of  our  journeys  or 
expectations  in  life  ! 

We  often  go,  in  our  thoughts  at  least,  to  the  grave  to  weep ; 
but  let  us  not  forget  to  raiss  our  contemplations  higher,  even  to 
Jesus,  who  here  expressed  such  tender  sentiments  of  compassion, 
and  wept  when  he  saw  the  tears  of  others,  though  he  knew  he 
was  going  to  wipe  them  away  by  restoring  that  friend  whom  they 
lamented. — He  afflicted  himself  and  it  may  be  proper  for  ns 
sometimes  to  do  it,  and  to  hold  down  our  thoughts  to  those  views 
of  things  which  may  give  us  pain  and  regret ;  if  that  attention  be 
so  adjusted  and  attempted  as  only  to  produce  a  sadness  of  the 
countenance  that  may  improve  the  heart.     (Eccles.  vii.  3. ) 

Let  the  modesty  with  which  o\tr  Lord  conducted  this  grand 
and  solemn  scene  teach  us  to  avoid  all  mean  transports  of  self- 
applause,  and  all  fondness  for  ostentation  and  parade.  lAke  Jesus, 
let  us  i.i  all  our  ways  acknowledge  God,  and  maintain  a  contin- 
ual dependance  on  his  influence,  to  be  sought  by  fervent  prayer  ; 
and  then  we  may  go  forth  to  every  duty  with  a  courageous  and 
cheerfid  assurance  that  he  will  carry  us  honourably  and  comforta- 
bly through  it.  Let  us  but  stedfastly  believe,  and  we  shall  see  the 
glory  of  God  :  he  will  manifest  his  power  for  our  help  ;  and  when 
our  case  appears  to  be  remediless,  then  is  the  time  for  his  almighty 
hand  to  save. 

Let  us  adore  and  trust  in  him  who  was  armed  with  so  divine  a 
power  as  to  be  able  to  rescue  the  prisoners  of  death,  and  to  recover 
the  trophies  of  the  all-conquering  and  devouring  grave.  And  if 
we  are  true  believers,  let  us  learn  to  take  our  part  in  the  triumph 
with  a  joyful  assurance,  that  though  we  putrify  in  the  dust,  and 
after  the  skin  worms  devour  our  bodies,  yet  in  our  flesh  we  shall 
at  length  see  God.     (Job  xix.  26.) 

It  was  surely  a  happy  time  that  succeeded  all  the  lamentations 
of  these  aflfectionate  mourners.  With  what  mutual  congratula- 
tions and  unutterable  endearments  did  Lazarus  and  his  sisters 
behold  each  other !  With  what  humble  gratitude  and  adoration 
did  they  all  prostrate  themselves  at  the  feet  of  their  Almighty  Sa- 
viour !    But  who  can  conceive  the  greater  transports  which  shall 

20 


218  HARMONY    OF    THE 

run  through  the  whole  redeemed  world  at  the  resurrection  day, 
when  piety  and  friendship  shall  be  perfected,  and  those  who  were 
dearest  to  each  other,  both  in  the  bonds  of  nature  and  of  grace, 
shall  spring  up  together  to  an  immortal  undivided  life .'  In  the 
jnean  time,  let  us  trust  our  friends  with  him  (with  whom,  if  we 
are  Christians  indeed,  we  have  trusted  our  souls,)  believing  that 
the  separations  he  appoints  are  prudent  and  kind,  and  that  even 
our  prayers  for  their  recovery  are  denied  in  mercy. 


SECTION  XXIX. 

John  xi.  47 — 57. 

Then  gathered  the  chief  priests  and  the  Pharisees  a 
council,  and  said,  What  do  we  ?  for  this  man  doeth  many 
miracles.  If  we  let  him  thus  alone,  all  men  will  believe 
on  him  :  and  the  Romans  shall  come  and  take  away 
both  our  place  and  nation. — And  one  of  them,  named 
Caiaphas,  being  the  high-priest  that  same  year,  said 
unto  them,  Ye  know  nothing  at  all,  nor  consider  that  it 
is  expedient  for  us,  that  one  man  should  die  for  the  peo- 
ple, and  that  the  whole  nation  perish  not.  And  this 
spake  he  not  of  himself:  but  being  high-priest  that 
year,  he  prophesied  that  Jesus  should  die  for  that  nation  ; 
And  not  for  that  nation  only,  but  ^  that  also  he  should 
gather  together  in  one  the  children  of  God  that  were 
scattered  abroad.  Then  from  that  day  forth  they  took 
counsel  together  for  to  put  him  to  death.  Jesus  there- 
fore walked  no  more  openly  among  the  Jews  ;  but  went 
thence  unto  a  country  near  to  the  wilderness,  into  a 
city  called  Ephraim,  and  there  continued  with  his  dis- 
ciples. 

Where  shall  we  tind  such  ret^tless,  such  causeless,  such  mcorn- 
gible  malice,  as  was  in  the  hearts  of  these  rulers  against  our  blessed 
Saviour  ?  What  but  Divine  grace  can  reclaim  men,  when  to  have 
heard  of  the  resurrection  of  Lazarus  from  their  own  friends  and 
confidants,  who  had  just  been  eye-witnesses  of  it,  instead  of  con- 
quering their  hearts,  served  only  to  intiame  their  murderous  rage  1 

This  is  an  instance  where  we  evidently  see  the  place  of  judg- 
ment,  that  tLnckedness  was  there;  and  the  place  of  righteousness-. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  219 

that  iniquity  was  there,  (Eccles.  iii.  16.)  The  high-priest  lays 
down  a  most  dangerous,  though  plausible,  maxim,  which  is  in  ef- 
fect no  other  than  this,  •*  That  the  murder  of  an  innocent  person 
by  forms  of  law"  which,  (as  a  noble  sufferer  observed,  is  surely 
the  worst  kind  of  murder,)  ''  nay,  even  of  a  person  who  by  mira- 
cles demonstrated  that  he  was  an  ambassador  from  God,  was  to  be 
chosen,  rather  than  by  protecting  and  obeying  him,  to  give  um- 
brage to  an  earthly  power,  which  seemed  superior  to  their  own.'* 
When  will  the  politicians  of  this  earth  learn  to  trust  God  in  his 
ways,  rather  than  to  trust  themselves,  and  their  own  wisdom,  in 
violation  of  all  the  rules  of  truth,  honour,  and  conscience  ?  Till 
then,  like  this  foolish  ruler,  iViey  will  be  caught  in  their  own  craf- 
tiness ;  and  it  is  more  than  possible  that  they  may;  in  many  in- 
stances, hasten  the  very  distress  they  are  contriving  to  avoid. 
For  this  was  here  the  event:  the  Romans  (called  therefore  the 
people  of  Messiah  the  Prince,  Dan.  ix.  26.)  were  sent  as  execu- 
tioners of  the  Divine  vengeance,  and  the  Jews  were  given  up  to  a 
spirit  of  discord  and  madness,  the  terrible  effects  of  which  were 
such  as  cannot  be  read  without  horror,  till  their  jjlace  and  nation 
were  taken  away  ;  nor  could  even  the  Roman  general  forbear 
declaring  that  the  hand  of  God  was  apparent  in  their  destruction. 
Let  us  attend  to  this  Divine  oracle  which  God  saw  fit  to  put 
into  the  mouth  of  so  wicked  a  man.  Jesus  has  actually  died  jor 
the  people,  even  for  all  the  children  of  God  that  are  scattered 
abroad.  His  death  is  substituted  instead  of  theirs  ;  and  by  it  they 
are  redeemed  and  delivered,  and  shall  ere  long  be  incorporated  to- 
gether, and  all  the  happy  colony  be  raised  to  an  abode  of  eternal 
glory.  Blessed  harvest,  which  springo  up  from  redeeming  blood  ! 
Heroic  love  of  the  dear  Redeemer,  which  at  the  proper  time 
brought  him  to  Jerusalem,  where  he  knew  that  evil  was  deter- 
mined against  Mm !  Let  us  follow  him,  in  a  courageous  adhe- 
rence to  God  and  our  duty,  in  the  midst  of  danger  and  opposition  ; 
and  not  wonder  if  we  are  set  up  as  the  marks  of  infamy  and  re- 
proach, when  we  see  Jesus  marked  out  by  a  public  mandate,  as 
if  he  had  been  a  robber  or  a  murderer ;  and  find  so  numerous  and 
grand  a  court  of  judicature  requiring  their  subjects  to  seize  this 
most  generous  Friend  of  the  whole  world  as  the  grand  enemy  of 
God  and  his  country. 


220  HARMONY    OF   THE 

SECTION  XXX, 

Luke  ix.  61 — 62. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  time  was  come  that  he 
should  be  received  up,  he  stedfastly  set  his  face  to  goto 
Jerusalem,  and  sent  messengers  before  his  face :  and 
they  went,  and  entered  into  a  village  of  the  Samaritans, 
10  make  ready  for  him.  And  they  did  not  receive  him, 
because  his  face  was  as  though  he  would  go  to  Jerusa- 
lem. And  when  his  disciples  James  and  John  saw  this, 
they  said,  Lord,  wilt  thou  that  we  command  fire  to  come 
down  from  heaven,  and  consume  them,  even  as  Elias 
did  ?  But  he  turned,  and  rebuked  them,  and  said,  Ye 
know  not  what  manner  of  spirit  ye  are  of.  For  the 
Son  of  man  is  not  come  to  destroy  men's  lives,  but  to 
save  them.     And  they  went  to  another  village. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  they  went  in  the  way,  a 
certain  7nan  said  unto  him,  Lord,  I  will  follow  thee 
whithersoever  thou  goest.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him. 
Foxes  have  holes,  and  birds  of  the  air  have  nests  ;  but 
the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head.  And 
he  said  unto  another,  Follow  me.  But  he  said,  Lord, 
suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury  my  father.  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Let  the  dead  bury  tlvjir  dead  :  but  go  thou 
and  preach  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  another  also 
said,  Lord,  I  will  follow  thee ;  but  let  me  first  go  bid 
them  farewell,  which  are  at  home  at  my  house.  And 
Jesus  said  unto  him,  No  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the 
plough,  and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Who  would  not  have  imagined  that  the  blessed  Jesus  should 
liave  been  most  cordially  welcome  wherever  he  came,  when  there 
was  grace  in  all  his  words,  and  benevolence  in  all  his  actions  ? 
Yet  these  Samaritans  toould  not  receive  him  because  he  was  a 
Jew.  And  thus  do  unhappy  prejudices,  taken  up  on  imaginary 
grounds,  against  men,  and  things  in  the  general,  sometimes  injure 
the  best  of  men,  and  prove  much  more  hurtful  to  the  persons 
themselves  by  whom  they  are  entertained. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  221 

The  rash  disciples  would  have  calledforfirefrom  heaven ;  and 
let  us  observe  how  Christ  treated  the  proposal.  He  treated  it 
like  himself;  like  the  kind  compassionate  Friend  of  human  na- 
ture ;  and  also  like  one  who  well  knew  what  was  in  man^  (John 
i  .  25,)  and  how  little  human  terrors  and  severities  can  do  to- 
wards producing  a  real  conviction.  Yei  fire  from  heaven  might 
have  carried  along  with  it  some  rational  ground  of  conviction, 
which  penal  laws  and  sanguinary  executions  can  never  produce. 
What  then  would  Christ  have  said  to  these  disciples  if  they  had 
themselves  proposed  to  smite  ^vith  the  sword,  or  to  cast  fire- 
brands into  the  house  of  these  inhospitable  men  ?  Little  do 
they  know  their  own  spirit ;  little  do  they  understand  either  the 
true  genius  or  the  true  interest  of  the  gospel,  who  have  re- 
course to  such  violent  methods  as  these  to  extirpate  heresy 
and  to  propagate  truth.  Let  us  bless  God  that  neither  the  guilt 
nor  misery  of  such  a  conduct  is  ours. 

Let  us  learn  to  search  our  own  hearts,  that  we  may  form  a 
thorough  acquaintance  with  ourselves ;  which  will  greatly 
promote  both  the  comfort  and  usefulness  of  life.  Especially  let 
us  attend  to  our  aims  and  intentions,  and  be  greatly  jealous  over 
our  own  hearts,  lest  we  indulge  our  irregular  passions  under 
religious  pretences,  and  set  up  the  standards  of  malice  and  pride 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

May  no  considerations  of  ease  or  interest,  or  even  of  human 
friendship,  lead  us  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  calls  of  duty ;  or 
suflfer  us,  when  we  once  have  engaged  in  his  service,  to  think  of 
deserting  it,  lest  on  the  whole  we  should  be  judged  unfit  for 
the  kingdom  of  God !  May  thy  grace,  O  Lord,  animate  our 
souls,  that  nothing  may  prevent  onr  faithfulness  unto  death,  and 
so  deprive  us  of  that  crown  of  life  which  thy  grace  has  prom- 
ised to  such  a  character  !  (Rev.  ii.  10.) 


SECTJON  XXXI. 
Luke  x.  1  — 16. 

After  these  things  the  Lord  appointed  otiier  seventy 
also,  and  sent  them  two  and  two  before  his  face  into 
every  city  and  place,  whither  he  himself  would  come. 
Therefore  said  he  unto  them.  The  harvest  truly  is  great, 
but  the  labourers  are  few  :  pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest,  that  he  would  send  forth  labourers  into 
his  harvest.  Go  your  ways  :  behold,  I  send  you  forth 
as  lambs  among  wolves.  Carry  neither  purse,  nor  scrip, 

20* 


222  HARMONY  OF  THE 

nor  shoes  ;  and  salute  no  man  by  the  way.  And  into 
whatsoever  house  ye  enter,  first  say,  Peace  be  to  this 
house.  And  if  the  son  of  peace  be  there,  your  peace 
shall  rest  upon  it  :  if  not,  it  shall  turn  to  you  again.  And 
in  the  samje  house  remain,  eating  and  drinking  such 
things  as  they  give :  for  the  labourer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire.  Go  not  from  house  to  house.  And  into  whatso- 
ever city  ye  enter,  and  they  receive  you,  eat  such  things 
as  are  set  before  you  :  and  heal  the  sick  that  are  there- 
in, and  say  unto  them,  The  kingdom  of  God  is  come 
nigh  unto  you.  But  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and 
they  receive  you  not,  go  your  ways  out  into  the  streets 
of  the  same,  and  say,  Even  the  very  dust  of  your  city, 
which  cleaveth  on  us,  we  do  wipe  off  against  you  :  not- 
withstanding be  ye  sure  of  this,  That  the  kingdom  of 
God  is  come  nigh  unto  you.  But  I  say  unto  you,  that 
it  shall  be  more  tolerable  in  that  day  for  Sodom,  than  for 
that  city.  Woe  unto  thee,  Chorazin !  woe  unto  thee, 
Bethsaida !  for  if  the  mighty  works  had  been  done  in 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  which  have  been  done  in  you,  they  had 
a  great  while  ago  repented,  sitting  in  sackcloth  and 
ashes.  But  it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Si- 
don at  the  judgment,  than  for  you.  And  thou,  Caper- 
naum, which  art  exalted  to  heaven,  shalt  be  thrust  down 
to  hell.  He  that  heareth  you  heareth  me  ;  and  he  that 
despiseth  you  despiseth  me  ;  and  he  that  despiseth  me 
despiseth  him  that  sent  me. 


So  unwilling  was  the  blessed  Jesus  to  give  over  his  kind  at- 
tempts for  men's  salvation !  He  projected  another  circuit 
through  the  country,  and  sends  forth  other  messengers,  more  nu- 
m^erous  than  the  former  company.  He  renews  his  invitations 
to  perishing  sinners,  and  his  lameyitations  over  those,  who  had 
hitherto  rejected  the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves.  (Luke 
vii.  30.)  Thus  let  us  love  the  souls  of  men  ;  thus  let  us  use 
repeated  endeavours  to  deliver  them  ;  endeavours  which  would 
probably  be  much  more  successful  than  they  are,  if  these  wise 
and  gracious  directions  of  CArisMo  his  ministers  vreremore  atten- 
tively observed  by  those  who  are  honoured  with  that  impor- 
tant  office. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  223 

Let  all  such  cast  their  care  upon  God ;  let  them  go  forth  cheer- 
fully in  a  dependence  on  his  protection  and  favour ;  let  them 
carry  about  with  them  hearts  full  of  affection  for  the  whole 
human  race,  seeking  and  praying  for  the  peace  of  all  around 
them  ;  cheerfully  contenting  thermelves  with  such  things  as  they 
have^  (Heb.  xiii.  5  ;)  and  neither  pursuing  the  grandeurs  nor  the 
delicacies  of  life  with  any  eager  atiachment. 

Send  forth,  0  Lord,  such  labourers  into  thine  harvest,  and  ani- 
mate them  to  a  becoming  zeal  in  their  work,  by  a  deep  sense 
of  that  dreadful  condemnation,  which  those  will  incur,  who  des~ 
pislng  them,  pour  contempt  on  their  Diving  Master,  and  his 
heavenly  Father,  in  whose  name  he  was  sent .'  May  God  pre- 
serve our  country  from  that  guilt  and  ruin  1  The  kingdom  of 
God  is  come  nigh  unto  us,  and  we  are  lijled  up  to  heaven  by  our 
privileges:  may  we  not,  after  all,  be  cast  down  to  hell  (or  the 
abuse  of  them  I  but  may  Divine  grace  make  such  a  way  for  the 
gospel  into  our  hearts,  that  we  may  cordially  receive  all  who 
faithfully  proclaim  it,  and  bid  them  welcome  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord ! 


SECTION  XXXII. 
Luke  x.  17 — 24. 

And  the  seventy  returned  again  with  joy,  saying,  Lord, 
even  the  devils  are  subject  unto  us  through  thy  name. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  1  beheld  Satan  as  lightning  fall 
from  heaven.  Behold  I  give  unto  you  power  to  tread  on 
serpents  and  scorpions,  and  over  all  the  power  of  the 
enemy  :  and  nothing  shall  by  any  means  hurt  you.  Not- 
withstanding in  this  rejoice  not,  that  the  spirits  are  sub- 
ject unto  you  ;  but  rather  rejoice,  because  your  names 
are  written  in  heaven. 

In  that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit,  and  said,  I  thank 
thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast 
hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  re- 
vealed them  unto  babes  :  even  so,  Father  ;  for  so  it 
seemed  good  in  thy  sight.  All  things  are  delivered  to 
me  of  my  Father :  and  no  man  knoweth  who  the  Son 
is,  but  the  Father  ;  and  who  the  Father  is,  but  the  Son, 
and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him.     And  he  turn- 


224  HARMONY  OF  THE 

ed  him  unto  his  disciples,  and  said  privately,  Blessed  are 
the  eyes  which  see  the  things  that  ye  see  :  for  1  tell  you, 
that  many  prophets  and  kings  have  desired  to  see  those 
things  which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  them;  and  to  hear 
those  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not  heard  them. 


And  are  not  our  obligations  in  some  measure  proportionable 
to  their Ss  while  these  glorious  sights  are  reflected  to  our  eyes 
from  the  mirror  of  his  word,  and  these  glad  tidings  are  echoed 
back  to  our  tars?  Have  not  we  also  reason  to  adore  the  pecu- 
liar favour  of  God  to  us,  and  to  admire  the  sovereignty  of  his 
love,  that  he  has  been  pleased  to  reveal  his  Son  in  us,  and  has 
given  to  such  babes^  as  we  must  own  ourselves  to  be,  that  spiri- 
tual knowledge  of  him,  which  he  has  suffered  to  remain  hidden 
from  the  great,  the  learned,  and  the  wise !  Even  so^  Fathery 
must  we  also  say,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight :  thou  hast 
mercy  on  ivhom  thou  wilt  have  mercy ^  and  often  exaltest  the  riches 
of  thy  grace  by  the  meanness  and  unworthiness  of  those,  on 
whom  it  is  bestowed. 

Havo  we  reason  to  hope  that  our  worthless  names  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven  ?  let  us  often  think  of  that  glorious  society, 
amongst  whom  we  are  enrolled  as  members,  and  rejoice  in  the 
thought  of  those  privileges,  which  result  from  such  a  relation 
to  it :  privileges  in  comparison  of  which,  a  power  to  heal  dis- 
eases^ and  eject  demons  with  a  word,  would  hardly  deserve  our 
joy.  In  a  grateful  sense  of  them,  let  us  adore  the  grace  which 
gave  us  a  place  in  the  Lamb^s  book  of  life,  and  be  ever  solici- 
tous to  behave  in  a  manner  worthy  of  so  illustrious  a  hope. 

We  have  great  encouragement  to  expect  that  he,  before 
whom  Satan  fell  like  lightning  from  heaven,  will  enable  us  final- 
ly to  trample  on  his  power.  Let  us  not  servilely  fear  that  con- 
demned crimnal,  already  marked  with  the  scars  of  the  Divine 
vengeance  ;  but  let  us  cheerfully  hope,  that  the  triumph  over 
him  will  be  renewed  by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  Quick- 
ened by  that  hope,  let  us  more  earnestly  pray,  that  the  ruin  of 
his  gloomy  kingdom  may  be  daily  more  and  more  apparent, 
especially  among  us ;  that  our  gracious  Redeemer,  who  reckons 
the  interests  of  souls  his  own,  have  renewed  reason  of  joy  and 
praise  on  that  account.  Exert,  O  blessed  Jesus,  thine  own  al- 
mighty arm  for  that  great  purpose  ;  and,  as  thou  alone  canst  do 
it,  reveal  thine  heavenly  Father  to  those  who,  by  neglecting /^cc, 
shew  that  thev  know  not  him  ! 


FOUR   QOSrELS.  225 

SECTION  XXXIII. 

Luke  x.  25 — 37. 

And,  behold,  a  certain  lawyer  stood  up,  and  tempted 
him,  saying,  Master,  what  shall  I  do  to  inherit  eternal 
life  ?  He  said  unto  him,  What  is  written  in  the  law  ? 
how  readest  thou  ?  And  he  answering  said,  Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind  ; 
and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  And  lie  said  unto  him, 
Thou  hast  answered  right :  this  do,  and  thou  shalt  live. 
But  he,  willing  to  justify  himself,  said  unto  Jesus,  And 
who  is  my  neighbour  ? 

And  Jesus  answering  said,  A  certain  man  went  down 
from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho,  and  fell  among  thieves,  which 
stripped  him  of  his  raiment,  and  wounded  him,  and  de- 
parted, leaving  him  half  dead.  And  by  chance  there 
came  down  a  certain  priest  that  way  :  and  when  he  saw 
him,  he  passed  by  on  the  other  side.  And  likewise  a 
Levite,  when  he  was  at  the  place  came  and  looked  on 
him,  and  passed  by  on  the  other  side.  But  a  certain  Sa- 
maritan, as  he  journeyed,  came  where  he  was  :  and 
when  he  saw  him,  he  had  compassion  on  him,  and  went 
to  him,  and  bound  up  his  wounds,  pouring  in  oil  and 
wine,  and  set  him  on  his  own  beast,  and  brought  him  to 
an  inn,  and  took  care  of  him.  And  on  the  morrow  when 
he  departed,  he  took  out  two -pence,  and  gave  them  to 
the  host,  and  said  unto  him,  Take  care  of  him ;  and 
whatsoever  thou  spendest  more,  when  1  come  again,  1 
will  repay  thee.  Which  now  of  these  three,  thinkest 
thou,  was  neighbour  unto  him  that  fell  among  the  thieves? 
And  he  said.  He  that  shewed  mercy  on  him.  Then  said 
Jesus  unto  him,  Go,  and  do  thou  likewise. 

Of  how  great  importance  is  it,  that  we  should  every  one  of 
us  be  in  good  earnest  making  this  inquiry,  which  the  Scribe  ad- 


226  HARMONY    OF   THE 

dressed  to  our  Lord^  What  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal 
life  I  What  ought  we  not  willingly  to  do,  and  to  bear,  that  we 
may  secure  so  great  a  felicity  ?  Still  will  our  Lord  answer  us 
from  his  word,  that  we  must  keep  the  commands  oj  God^  while 
we  are  looking  to  him  as  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness. 
(Rom.  X.  4.)  Happy  are  they  that  faithfully  do  it,  that  through 
the  grace  manifested  in  the  gospel  they  may  have  a  right  to  eat 
of  the  tree  of  life  !  (Rev.  xxii.  14.) 

May  this  abstract  and  summary  of  the  commandments  be 
written  as  it  were  in  golden  characters,  on  the  table  of  each  of 
our  hearts .'  May  we  love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all  the  united 
powers  and  faculties  of  our  souls  and  our  neighbour  as  sincerely 
and  fervently  as  ourselves !  And  may  we  learn  from  this  beau- 
tiful parable  of  the  good  Samaritan,,  to  exercise  our  charity  to 
our  fellow-creatures  in  the  most  amiable  manner  1 

The  Jewish  Priest  and  Levite  had,  no  doubt,  the  ingenuity  to 
find  out  some  excuse  or  other  for  passing  over  to  the  other  side ; 
and  might  perhaps,  formally  thank  God  for  their  own  deliver- 
ance, while  they  left  their  brother  to  bleed  to  death  for  want  of 
their  assistance.  Is  it  not  an  emblem  of  many  living  charac- 
ters, perhaps  of  some,  whose  sacred  office  lays  them  under  the 
strongest  obligations  to  distinguished  benevolence  and  generos- 
ity ?  But  the  good  Samaritan  acted  the  part  of  a  brother  to  this 
expiring  Jew.  O  seed  of  Israel,  O  house  of  Levi  and  oi  Aarort ! 
will  not  the  day  come,  when  the  human  virtues  of  heathens 
shall  rise  up  in  judgment  against  thee  ! 

Let  us  reflect  with  shame,  what  are  the  differences  between 
one  Christian  and  another,  when  compared  with  those  between 
a  Samaritan  and  a  Jew  I  Yet  here  the  benevolence  of  a  good 
heart  overcame  even  these;  and,  on  the  view  of  a  wounded 
dying  man,  forgot  that  he  was  by  nation  a7i  enemy.  Whose 
heart  does  not  burn  within  him,  whose  eyes  do  not  overflow 
with  tears  of  delight,  while  he  reads  such  a  story  ?  Let  us  go  and 
do  likewise,  regarding  every  man  as  our  neighbour  who  needs 
our  assistance.  Let  us  exclude  every  malignant  sentiment  of 
bigotry  and  party  zeal  which  would  contract  our  hearts  into  an 
msensibility  for  all  the  human  race,  but  a  little  select  number, 
whose  sentiments  and  practices  are  so  much  our  own,  that  our 
love  to  them  is  but  self  love  reflected.  With  an  honest  open- 
ness of  mind  let  us  always  remember  the  relation  between  man 
and  man,  and  feel  and  cultivate  that  happy  instinct  by  which 
God,  who  has/ormerf  our  hearts  in  many  instances  alike,  has  in 
the  original  constitution  of  our  nature  strongly  and  graciously 
bound  them  to  each  other. 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  227 

SECTION  XXXIV. 
Luke  x.  38—42. 

Now  11  came  to  pass,  as  they  went,  that  he  entered  into 
a  certain  village  :  and  a  certain  woman  named  Martha, 
received  him  into  her  house.  And  she  had  a  sister  call- 
ed Mary,  which  also  sat  at  Jesus'  feet)  and  heard  his 
word.  But  Martha  was  cumbered  about  much  serving, 
and  came  to  him,  and  said,  Lord,  dost  thou  not  care  that 
my  sister  hath  left  me  to  serve  alone  ?  bid  her  therefore 
that  she  help  me.  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
her,  Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful  and  troubled 
about  many  things  :  But  one  thing  is  needful :  and 
Mary  hath  chosen  that  good  part,  which  shall  not  be 
taken  away  from  her. 

So  steadily  and  zealously  did  our  blessed  Lord  pursue  his 
work,  "with  such  unwearied  diligence  and  constant  affection  ! 
No  sooner  is  he  entered  into  the  house  of  this  pious  friend,  but 
he  sets  himself  to  preach  the  word  of  salvation,  and  is  the  same 
m  the  parlour  which  he  had  been  in  the  temple.  O  Mary,  how 
delightful  was  thy  situation  I  Who  would  not  rather  have  sat 
with  thee  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  to  hear  his  ivisdom,  than  have  filled 
the  thront  of  the  greatest  prince  upon  earth  I  Blessed  were  thine 
eyes  in  what  they  saw,  thine  ears  in  what  they  heard,  and  thint 
heart  v^  what  it  received  and  embraced,  and  treasured  up  as 
food,  which  would  endure  to  everlasting  life  ! 

How  unhappily  was  her  good  sister  deprived  of  the  entertain- 
ment of  these  golden  moments,  while  hurried  about  meats  and 
drinks,  and  tables  with  their  furniture,  till  she  lost,  not  only 
her  opportunity,  but  her  temper  too  ;  as  it  is  indeed  hard  to  pre- 
serve it,  without  a  resolute  guard,  amidst  the  crowd  and 
clamour  of  domestic  cares  !  Happy  that  mistress  of  a  numerous 
family,  who  can  manage  its  concerns  with  the  meekness  and 
composure  oi  wisdom,  and  adjust  its  affairs  in  such  a  manner,  as 
that  it  may  not  exclude  the  pleasures  of  devotion,  and  cut  her 
off  from  the  means  of  religious  improvement !  Happy  the  man 
who,  in  a  pressing  variety  of  secular  business,  is  not  so  cumbered 
and  careful  as  to  forget  that  one  thing,  which  is  absolutely  need- 
ful;  but  resolutely  chooses  this  belter  part,  and  retains  it  as  the 


228  HARMONY   OP   THE 

only  secure  and  everlasting  treasure  I  Oh  that  this  comprehen- 
sive and  important  sentence  were  ever  before  our  eyes  I  Oh 
that  it  were  inscribed  deep  into  our  hearts  !  One  thing  is  need- 
ful. And  what  is  this  one  things  but  the  care  of  the  soul  ?  what 
but  an  humble  attention  to  the  voice  and  the  gospel  of  Christ  ? 
Yet,  as  i{  this  were  of  all  things  the  most  unnecessary,  for  what 
poor  trifling  care  is  it  not  commonly  forgot  ?  yea,  to  what  worth- 
less vanity  is  it  not  daily  sacrificed  ? 

Let  the  ministers  of  Christ,  let  the  friends  of  souls  in  every 
station,  exert  themselves,  that  all  about  them  may  be  awakened 
duly  to  regard  this  great  interest;  accounting  it  their  meat  and 
their  drink  to  promote  it.  Let  them  be  always  solicitous,  that 
neither  they  nor  others  may  neglect  it  for  the  hurries  of  too 
busy  a  life,  or  even  for  the  services  of  an  over-officious  friend- 
ship. 


SECTION  XXXV. 

Luke  xi.  1 — 13. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  he  was  praying  in  a  cer- 
tain place,  when  he  ceased,  one  of  his  disciples  said  unto 
him,  Lord,  teach  us  to  pray,  as  John  also  taught  his  dis- 
ciples. And  he  said  unto  them,  When  ye  pray,  say, 
OiJR  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done,  as  in 
heaven,  so  in  earth.  Give  us  day  by  day  our  daily  bread. 
And  forgive  us  our  sins  ;  for  we  also  forgive  every  one 
that  is  indebted  to  us.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation  ; 
but  deliver  us  from  evil. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Which  of  you  shall  have  a 
friend,  and  shall  go  unto  him  at  midnight,  and  say  unto 
him.  Friend,  lend  me  three  loaves  ;  for  a  friend  of  mine 
in  his  journey  is  come  to  me,  and  1  have  nothing  to  set 
before  hintk:  and  he  from  within  shall  answer  and  say, 
Trouble  me  not :  The  door  is  now  shut,  and  my  chil- 
dren are  with  me  in  bed  ;  I  cannot  rise  and  give  thee. 
I  say  unto  you,  Though  he  will  not  rise  and  give  him, 
because  he  is  his  friend,  yet  because  of  his  importunity 
he  will  rise  and  give  him  as  many  as  he  needeth.    And 


FOUR    fJOSPELS.  229 

1  say  unto  you,  Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you  ;  seek, 
and  ye  shall  find  ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
you.  For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and  he  that 
seeketh  findeth ;  and  to  him  that  kiiocketh  it  shall  be 
opened.  It'  a  son  shall  ask  bread  of  any  of  you  tliai  is  a 
father,  will  he  give  him  a  stone  ?  or  it'heask  a  fish,  will 
he  for  a  fish  ^ive  him  a  serpent  ?  or  if  he  shall  ask  an 
ejjg,  will  he  offer  him  a  scorpion  ?  If  ye  then,  being  evil, 
know  how  to  give  uood  g\i\s  unto  your  children  ;  how 
much  more  shall  your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  ? 

Well  does  this  petition  become  every  disrple  of  Christ ;  Lord, 
teach  us  to  pray!  Thou  hast  taught  us  by  thine  example,  and 
Dy  the  precef)ts  of  thy  word  ;  teach  us  also  by  thine  Holy 
Spirit  I  Excellent  is  this  form  of  sound  and  Divine  worls, 
■wh'ch  our  great  Master  here  recommends.  God  forbid,  that 
any  of  hi?  followers  should  censure  their  brethren,  who  think 
it  still  proper  to  use  it,  not  only  as  a  directory,  but  as  a  form 
too,  though  perhaps  with  some  little  variation  from  the  original 
sense  of  some  clauses  of  it.  Let  us  attentively  study  it,  that, 
concise  and  expressive  as  it  is,  our  thoughts  may  go  along  With 
its  several  petitions. 

Let  us  learn  to  reverence  and  love  God,  nnd  to  consider  our- 
selves as  brethren  in  his  family,  Let  the  glory  o(  his  name^  and 
the  prosperity  of  his  kingdom,  be  much  dearer  to  us  than  a/y 
separate  interest  of  our  own.  Let  it  be  our  cordial  de^ire  that 
/iiA- ?r//Z  may  be  universally  obeyed,  and  wih  the  most  entire 
consent  of  soul  acquiesced  in,  by  all  his  creatures,  bf>lh  in  hea- 
ven and  on  earth.  Let  our  appetites  and  passions  be  so  mode- 
rated, that  having  even  the  y\ii\ii^'s{  food  and  raiment  let  may  be 
therewith  content :  and,  on  the  other  hand, how  plentiful  soever 
our  circumstances  may  be,  let  us  remember,  {hut  day  by  day  we 
depend  on  God  for  our  daily  bread.  Nor  do  we  need  even  the 
mo?t  necessary  supplies  of  life  more  than  we  need  daily  pardon  ; 
to  which  therefore  we  should  be  putting  in  our  constant  claim, 
heartily  forgiving  all  our  brethren,  as  we  desire  to  be  forgiven 
by  God.  Conscious  of  our  own  weakness,  let  us,  as  far  as  we  can, 
endeavour  to  avoid  circumstances  of  temptation ;  and  when 
necessarily  led  into  them,  let  us  be  looking  up  to  heaven  ior 
support;  labouring  above  all  things  to  preserve  our  integrity, 
and  to  maintain  a  conscience  void  of  offence. 

Depeniiing  on  the  certainty  of  these  gracious  promises,  and 
encouraged  by  the  experience  of  so  many  tliousands,  who  have 

21 


230  HARMOKY  OF  THE 

on  asking  received,  and  on  seeking  found,  let  us  renew  our  impor- 
tunate addresses  to  the  throne  of  Divine  gracej;  and,  remember- 
ings the  compassion  of  oxxv  heavenly  Father,  let  us  be  emboldened, 
in  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  to  ask  every  necessary  blessing, 
especially  the  communication  ot  that  enlightening  andsanctifying 
iS/?tri/,  without  which  our  corrupt  hearts  will  find  out  a  ready 
way  to  abuse  the  choicest  of  his  providential  favours  to  the  dis- 
honour of  his  holy  name,  and  the  deeper  wounding  of  our  own 
miserable  souls. 

SECTION  XXXVI. 

Luke  xi.  14 — 36. 

And  he  was  casting  out  a  devil,  and  it  was  dumb.  And 
it  came  to  pass,  when  the  devil  was  gone  out,  the  dumb 
spake  ;  and  the  people  wondered.  But  some  of  them 
said,  He  castelh  out  devils  through  Beelzebub,  the  chief 
of  the  devils.  And  others,  tempting  him,  sought  of  him 
a  sign  from  heaven.  But  he,  knowing  their  thoughts, 
said  unto  them,  Every  kingdom  divided  against  itself  is 
brought  to  desolation  ;  and  a  house  divided  against  a 
house  falleth.  If  Satan  also  be  divided  against  himself, 
how  shall  his  kingdom  stand  ?  because  ye  say  that  I  cast 
out  devils  through  Beelzebub.  And  if  I  by  Beelzebub 
cast  out  devils,  by  whom  do  your  children  cast  them  out  1 
therefore  shall  they  be  your  judges.  But  if  I  with  the 
finger  of  God  cast  out  devils,  no  doubt  the  kingdom  of 
God  is  come  upon  you.  When  a  strong  man  armed 
keepeth  his  palace,  his  goods  are  in  peace  :  But  when  a 
stronger  than  he  shall  come  upon  him  and  overcome 
him,  he  taketh  from  him  all  his  armour  wherein  he  trust- 
ed, and  divideth  his  spoils.  He  that  is  not  with  me  is 
against  me  :  and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me  scatter- 
eth.  When  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out  of  a  man,  he 
walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest  ;  and-finding 
none,  he  saith,  I  will  return  unto  my  house  whence  I 
came  out.  And  when  he  cometh,  he  findeth  it  swept 
and  garnished.  Then  goeth  he,  and  taketh  to  him  seven 
other  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself ;  and  they  enter 


FOUR  Gosnxs.  231 

in  and  dwell  there  :  and  the  last  state  of  that  man  is 
worse  than  the  first. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  spake  these  things,  a  cer- 
tain woman  of  tlie  company  lifted  up  her  voice,  and  said 
unto  him.  Blessed  is  the  womb  that  bare  thee,  and  the 
paps  which  thou  hast  sucked.  But  he  said,  Yea  rather 
blessed  are  they  that  hear  the  word  of  God  and  keep  it. 

And  when  the  people  were  gathered  thick  together, 
he  began  to  say,  This  is  an  evil  generation  :  they  seek 
a  sign  :  and  there  shall  no  sia[n  be  given  it,  but  the  sign 
of  Jonas  the  prophet  :  for  as  Jonas  was  a  sign  unto  the 
Ninevites,  so  shall  also  the  Son  of  Man  be  to  this  gene- 
ration. The  queen  of  the  South  shall  rise  up  in  the 
judgment  with  the  men  of  this  generation,  and  condemn 
them  :  for  she  came  from  the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth 
to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon  ;  and  behold,  a  greater 
than  Solomon  is  here.  The  men  of  Nineveh  shall  rise 
up  in  the  judgment  with  this  generation,  and  shall  con- 
demn it :  for  they  repented  at  the  preaching  of  Jonas  ; 
and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Jonas  is  here.  No  man, 
when  he  hath  lighted  a  candle,  putteth  it  in  a  secret 
place,  neither  under  a  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick,  that 
they  which  come  in  ma\  see  the  light.  The  light  of  the 
body  is  the  eye  :  therefore  when  thine  eye  is  single,  thy 
whole  body  also  is  full  of  light ;  but  when  thine  eye  is 
evil,  thy  body  also  is  full  of  darkness.  Take  heed  there* 
fore  that  the  light  vt'hich  is  in  thee  be  not  darkness.  If 
thy  whole  body  therefore  be  full  of  light,  having  no  part 
dark,  the  whole  shall  be  full  of  light,  as  when  the  bright 
shining  of  a  candle  doth  give  thee  light- 


Whose  heart  doe?  not  echo  back  the  exclamation  o{  this  pious 
woman  ?  Yet  who  does  not  too  frequently  forget  that  weighty 
and  important  answer  which  succeeded  it  ?  Let  us  not  only 
hear^  but  keep  the  word  of  Christ ;  and  we  shall  thus  be  happy 
in  a  nearer  union  with  him  than  ever  could  arise  from  any 
natural  relation  to  hira.  and  shall  ere  long  have  opportunities  of 
more  noble  and  more  delightful  converge  with  him  than  those, 
with  which  the  Kirgin  Mary  herself  was  honoured  during  the 
time  of  his  abode  on  earth. 


232  HXRMONY    OF    THK 

i;j  Still  does  the  liiiht  of  his  divine  instructions  shine  with  the 
brightest  histre,  and  diffuse  itself  around  us !  Let  us  open  the 
ei/es  of  our  mind  with  singleness  and  simplicity  to  receive  it  ; 
and  make  it  our  care  to  r.ct  according  to  it.  Then  shall  we 
know,  if  we  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  (Hosea  vi.  3,)  and  thus 
with  cheerfulness  shall  we  reap  the  fruit  ol  a  well-informed 
mind  and  a  well-regulated  life  .' 

May  we  be  delivered  from  all  those  false  maxims  which 
would  darken  our  hearts  amidst  all  this  meridian  lustre,  and 
turn  our  boasted  light  into  darkness?  Would  to  God  (here 
were  not  renewed  instance?  of  thi?  kind  continually  occurring 
among  us;  and  that  we  did  not  daily  meet  with  persons  whose 
pretended  wisdom  teaches  them  to  forget  or  despise  the  gospel, 
and  to  serve  only  to  amuse  their  tyts,  while  it  leads  their  jtet  to 
the  chambers  of  death  ! 


SECTION  XXXVII. 

Luke  xi.  37 — 54. 

And  as  he  spake,  a  certain  Pharisee  besought  him  to 
dine  with  him  :  and  he  went  in  and  sat  down  to  meat. 
And  when  the  Pharisee  saw  it,  he  marvelled  that  he  had 
not  first  washed  before  dinner.  And  the  Lord  said  unto 
him,  Now  do  ye  Pharisees  make  clean  the  outside  of 
the  cup  and  the  platter  ;  but  your  inward  part  is  full  of 
ravening  and  wickedness.  Ye  fools,  did  not  he  that 
made  that  which  is  without  make  that  which  is  within 
also?  But  rather  give  alms  of  such  things  as  ye  have  ; 
and,  behold,  all  things  are  clean  unto  you. 

But  woe  unto  you,  Pharisees !  for  ye  tithe  mint  and 
rue  and  all  manner  of  herbs,  aad  pass  over  judgment  and 
the  love  of  God  :  these  ought  ye  to  have  done,  und  not 
to  leave  the  other  undone.  Woe  unto  you,  Pharisees  I 
for  ye  love  the  uppermost  seats  in  the  synagogues,  and 
greetings  in  the  markets. — Woe  unto  you.  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  hypocrites  !  for  ye  are  as  graves  which  ap- 
pear not,  and  the  men  that  walk  over  them  aie  not  aware 
of  them' 

Then  answered  one  of  the  lawyers,  and  said  unto  him, 
Master,  thus  saying  thou  reproachest  us  also.     And  he 


FOUR    GOSPELS. 


233 


said,  Woe  unto  you  also,  ye  lawyers  !  for  ye  lade  men 
with  burdens  grievous  to  be  borne,  and  ye  yourselves 
touch  not  the  burdens  with  one  of  your  fingers.  Woe 
unto  you  !  for  ye  build  the  sepulchres  of  the  prophets, 
and  your  fathers  killed  them.  Truly  ye  bear  witness 
that  ye  allow  the  deeds  of  your  fathers  :  for  they  indeed 
killed  them,  and  ye  build  their  sepulchres.  Therefore 
also  said  the  wisdom  of  God,  I  will  send  them  prophets 
and  apostles,  and  some  of  them  they  shall  slay  and  per- 
secute :  that  the  blood  of  all  the  prophets,  which  was 
shed  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  may  be  required 
of  this  generation  ;  from  the  blood  of  Abel  unto  the 
blood  of  Zacharias,  which  perished  between  the  altar  and 
tKe  temple  :  verily  1  say  unto  you,  It  shall  be  required 
of  this  generation. 

Woe  unto  you,  lawyers  !  for  ye  have  taken  away  the 
key  of  knowledge  :  ye  enter  not  in  yourselves,  and  them 
that  were  entering  in,  ye  hindered. 

And  as  he  said  these  things  unto  them,  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  began  to  urge  him  vehemently,  and  to 
provoke  him  to  speak  of  many  things  :  laying  wait  for 
him,  and  seeking  to  catch  something  out  of  his  mouth, 
that  they  might  accuse  him. 


Faithful  are  the  uounds  of  a  friend ;  and  such  were  the  re- 
proofs oi  Christ  on  this  occasion.  How  well  had  a)l  the  enter- 
tainments of  the  Pharisee's  table  been  repaid,  had  he  and  his 
brethren  heard  them  with  candour,  humility,  and  obedience  I 
These  men  despised  them  to  their  ruin;  let  us  often  review 
them  for  our  instruction,  that  none  of  these  dreadful  woes  may 
come  upon  us. 

This  discourse  of  our  Lord  is  a  most  just  and  severe  rebuke 
to  every  hypocrilical  professor,  who  is  scrupulous  and  exact  in 
matters  of  cfrfwon^iT,  while  he  neglects  moraZj/^/ ;  and  is  studi- 
ous to  shine  in  the  sight  of  men,  while  he  forirets  the  all-pene- 
trating eye  of  God.  It  exposes  the  ostentation  oi  those  who 
pride  themselves  in  empty  litks  of  honour,  and  eagerly  aflect 
precedence  and  superiority.  And  it  evidently  chastises  those 
ssho  press  on  others  the  duties  they  we^/ecf  themselves,  and  ao 
are  most  righteously  y«(/gerf  out  of  their  own  mouth. 

21* 


234  HARMONY    OF    THE 

How  melancholy  it  is  to  observe,  in  instances  like  these,  this 
hypocrisy  and  deceitfulness  of  the  human  heart,  and  its  desper- 
ate and  unfathomable  wickedness  I  and  to  see  how  men  impose 
upon  themselves  with  empty  appearance?  like  these  Pharisets  : 
who  built  the  sepulchres  of  the  former  prophets,  whWe  they  were 
persecuting  those  of  their  own  day;  and,  in  contempt  of  all  that 
was  said  by  the  messengers  of  God,  were  filling  up  the  measure 
of  their  iniquities^  till  the  cloud  which  had  been  so  long  gather- 
ing, burst  on  their  heads,  and  poured  forth  a  storm  of  aggra- 
vated wrath  anil  ruin  ! 

May  that  God.  who  has  an  immediate  access  to  the  hearts 
of  men,  deliver  all  christian  countries,  and  especially  all  pro- 
testant  churches,  from  such  teachers  as  are  here  described  :  who 
take  away  and  secrete  the  key  of  knowledge  instead  ol  using  il, 
and  obstruct,  rather  than  promote  men's  entrance  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  !  How  loud  will  the  blood  of  the  souls  they  haye 
betrayed  cry  against  them  in  the  awful  day  of  accounts! 
and  how  little  will  the  wages  of  unrighteousness.,  and  the  re- 
wards of  worldly  policy,  be  able  to  warn  them  against  destruc- 
tion, or  to  support  them  under  it  I 


SECTION  xxxvm. 

LVK£  XII.  1 — 12. 

In  the  mean  time,  when  there  were  gathered  together  an 
innumerable  multitude  of  people,  insomuch  that  they 
trode  one  upon  another,  he  began  to  say  unto  his  disci- 
ples first  of  all,  Beware  ye  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees, 
which  is  hypocrisy.  For  there  is  nothing  covered,  that 
shall  not  be  revealed  ;  neither  hid  that  shall  not  be 
known.  Therefore  whatsoever  ye  have  spoken  in  dark- 
ness shall  be  heard  in  the  light ;  and  that  which  ye  have 
spoken  in  the  ear  in  closets  shall  be  proclaimed  upon  the 
house-tops. 

And  I  say  unto  you,  my  friends,  Be  not  afraid  of  them 
that  kill  the  body,  and  after  that  have  no  more  that  they 
can  do.  But  I  will  forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall  fear  : 
Fear  him,  which  aftei  he  hath  killed  hath  power  to  cast 
into  hell ;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  Fear  him.  Are  not  five 
sparrows  sold  for  two  farthings,  and  not  one  of  the^n  is 


FOUR    COS  PELS.  235 

forgotten  before  God.  But  even  the  very  hairs  of  your 
head  are  all  numbered.  Fear  not  therefore  :  ye  are  of 
more  value  than  many  sparrows.  Also  I  say  unto  you, 
Whosoever  shall  confess  me  before  men,  liim  shall  the 
Son  of  man  also  confess  before  the  angels  of  God  :  But 
he  that  denieth  me  before  men  shall  be  denied  before 
the  angels  of  God.  And  whosoever  shall  speak  a  word 
against  the  Son  of  man,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him  ;  but 
unto  him  that  blasphemeth  against  the  Holy  Ghost  it 
shall  not  be  forgiven.  And  when  they  bring  you  unto 
the  synagogues,  and  unto  magistrates,  and  powers,  take 
ye  no  thought  how  or  what  thing  ye  shall  answer,  or 
what  ye  shall  say  :  For  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  teach  you 
in  the  same  hour  what  ye  ought  to  say. 

Let  us  from  this  discourse,  which  we  have  been  reading,  lenro 
ihe/oUi/  of  hypocrisy^  as  well  as  the  icicktdntss  of  it.  A  lying 
tongue  is  but  for  a  moment.  (Prov.  xii.  19;)  and  the  great  ap- 
proaching yurfo-wien/.dai/  will  shew  all  in  their  true  colours. 
May  we  live  as  those,  who  are  then  to  be  made  manifest!  May 
the  leaven  of  deceit,  by  Divine  grace,  be  entirely  purged  out  of 
our  hearts;  and  all  our  conduct  be  so  fair  and  equal,  that  it 
may  appear  more  honourable  and  lovely,  in  proportion  to  (he 
accuracy  with  which  it  is  examined;  as  the  whitest  garments 
are  recommended  by  beiug  seen  in  the  strongest  light  I 

If  we  would  preserve  such  an  integrity  of  soul,  let  us  endeav- 
our to  get  above  the  servile/ear  of  man;  of  man,  that  shall  die^ 
and  of  the  son  of  man.  that  shall  be  made  as  grass  ;  as  if  the  op' 
pressor  had  us  in  his  power,  and  were  ready  to  destroy;  and 
where  is  the  fury  of  the  oppressor?  (Isa.  li.  12,  13  )  With  what 
infinite  ease  can  God  restrain  it ;  and  when  it  is  let  loose  in  all 
its  violence,  how  little  can  it  do  to  hurt  his  faithful  servants! 
Let  this  mean  passion  be  over-awed  by  the  fear  of  that  God^ 
who  has  our  eternal  all  in  his  hands ;  whose  vengeance,  or 
favour,  will  reach  far  beyond  the  grave,  and  determine  our 
final  misery  or  felicity,  as  we  are  the  objects  of  the  one  or  the 
other. 

While  we  are  in  the  world,  let  us  labour  after  a  firm  faith 
ia  the  universality  of  Divine  Providence  :  from  which  the  least 
of  his  creatures  are  not  exempted,  nor  are  they  forgotten  by  it. 
Let  us  endeavour  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  and  comfort  of  such  a 
thought;  assuring  ourselves  that  He,  who  regards  the  life  of 
birds  and  of  insects^  will  not  neglect  the  care  and  preservation 
of  his  children. 


236  HAEMOKY   OF   THE 

In  a  steady  persuasion  of  this,  let  us  determine  courageously 
to  confess  and  maintain  his  gospel  in  the  extremest  danger  ; 
knowing  that  thus  only  we  shall  secure  the  honour  of  being 
owned  by  Christ,  amidst  all  the  glories  of  his  final  appearance. 

And,  in  a  word,  to  animate  us  to  this  holy  courage,  and  to 
assist  us  in  every  other  duty,  let  us  earnestly  pray  for  the  Holy 
Spirit;  by  whose  influence  the  apostles  were  instructed  and 
supported  in  the  discharge  of  their  difficult  and  various  offices; 
whose  grace  therefore  must  be  ahundanily  svfficicni  for  us,  to 
cause  us  to  abound  in  every  good  word  and  work,  (2  Ccr.  ix.  S.) 


SECTION  XXXIX. 
Luke  xii.  13 — 21. 

And  one  of  the  company  said  unto  him,  Master,  speak 
to  my  brother,  that  he  divide  the  inheritance  with  me. 
And  he  said  unto  him,  Man,  who  made  me  a  judge  or  a 
divider  over  you  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed, 
and  beware  of  covetousness  :  for  a  man's  life  consisteth 
not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  which  he  posesseth. 
And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them,  saying,  The 
ground  of  a  certain  rich  man  brouglit  forth  plentifully  : 
And  he  thought  within  himself,  saying.  What  shall  I  do, 
because  I  have  no  room  where  to  bestow  my  fruits  ? 
And  he  said,  This  will  I  do  :  I  will  pulldown  my  barns, 
and  build  greater  ;  and  there  will  I  bestow  all  my  fruits 
and  my  goods.  And  I  will  say  to  my  soul,  Soul,  thou 
hast  much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years  ;  take  thine 
ease,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry.  But  God  said  unto  him, 
Thou  fool,  this  night  thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee  : 
then  whose  shall  those  things  be,  which  thou  hast  pro- 
vided ?  So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself,  and 
is  not  rich  toward  God. 


Most  prudently  did  our  Lord  decline  the  invidious  office  of  an 
arbitrator  in  .civil  affairs ;  arid  wisdom  will  require  his  ministers 
generally  to  avoid  it  likewise.  It  is  more  suitable  to  our  office, 
like  our  blessed  Master,  to  endeavour  to  draw  o^"  and  disen- 


FOUK   GOSPELS.  237 

gii?e  the  minds  of  men  from  covetousneis,  aruJ  to  pluck  up  tlie 
root  of  those  eager  contentions,  which  so  oftrn  diviile  eveti  he 
nearest  relations,  anJ  inspire  ihem  with  mutual  aversion,  more 
invineible  than  the  bars  of  a  castle  .  (Prov.  xvui.  19.) 

And  that  a  covetous  desire  of  the  enjoyments  of  the  world  may 
not  create  contentions,  and  engage  us  in  pursuits  that  will  be  fatal 
to  our  souls,  let  us  seriously  consider  the  true  value  of  things,  and 
reflect  how  little  riches  can  do  to  make  us  happy  if  we  obtain 
them  ;  and  how  very  uncertain  that  life  is,  on  the  continuance  of 
which  our  possession  ol  them  does  so  evidently  depend.  Bui, 
alas,  how  many  are  there,  who  are  now  as  deeply  engaged  in 
their  worldly  schemes,  as  this  rich  /ool  in  the  parable,  to  whom 
God  wiil,  in  a  weeks,  or  days,  if  not  this  very  night,  say,  by  the 
awful  voice  of  his  irresistible  providence,  Thy  soul  is  required  of 
thte  !  And  then,  what  will  all  these  treasuies  do  to  pui  chase  life, 
or  to  allay  the  agonies  oi  death  7  So  far  will  they  be  found  from 
being  capable  of  this,  that  they  will  rather  serve  to  increase  an«l 
imbitter  the  surprise  and  anguish  of  those  agonies. 

Let  it  then  be  our  labour  and  care  that  we  may  be  rich  to- 
wards God;  rich  in  works  of  piety  and  charity.  So  shall  we  safely 
consign  over  our  treasure  to  the  bank  of  heaven,  and  shall  be  en- 
riched by  it,  when  we  leave  the  world  as  naked  as  we  entered 
upon  it,  and  lose  all  but  what  has  been  so  wisely  and  happily 
spent. 


SECTION  XL. 
Luke  xii.  22—34. 

Ani>  he  said  unto  his  disciples.  Therefore  T  say  unto 
you.  T  ike  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat  ; 
neither  for  the  body,  what  ye  shall  put  on  The  life  is 
more  than  meat,  and  the  body  is  more  than  raiment, 
Consider  the  ravens  :  for  they  neither  sow  nor  reap  ; 
which  neither  have  store-house  nor  barn  ;  and  God 
feedeth  them :  How  much  more  are  ye  better  than  the 
f  >wls  !  And  which  of  you  with  taking  thought  can  add 
to  his  stature  one  cubit  ?  U  ye  then  be  not  able  to  do 
that  thing  which  is  least,  why  take  ye  thought  for  the 
rest  ?  Consider  the  lilies  how  they  grow  :  they  toil  not, 
they  spin  not;  and  yet  I  say  unto  you  that  Solomon  in 
all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  these.     If  then 


?38  HARMONY    OF    THE 

God  SO  clollie  the  grass,  which  is  to-day  in  the  field, 
and  to-moiTow  is  cast  into  the  oven  :  how  !!)uch  more 
will  he  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith  ?  And  seek  not 
ye  what  ye  shall  eat,  or  what  ye  shall  drink,  neither  be 
ye  of  doubtful  mind.  For  all  these  things  do  the  na- 
tions of  the  world  seek  after  :  and  your  Father  know- 
eth  that  ye  have  need  of  these  things.  But  rather  seek 
ye  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be 
added  unto  you.  Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  for  it  is  your 
Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom.  Sell 
that  ye  have,  and  give  alms  ;  provide  yourselves  bags 
which  wax  not  old,  a  treasure  in  the  heavens  that  failelh 
not,  w^here  no  thief  approacheth,  neither  moth  corrupt- 
eth  :  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will  your  heart 
be  also. 


Are  we  not  all  conscious  to  ourselves,  that  oo  such  topics  as 
these,  we  need  li7ie  upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept,  as  be- 
ing too  deficient  in  our  regai'd,  though  God  spake  once,  yea  twice? 
(Job  xxxiii.  14.)  We  see  our  heavenly  Father  crowning  the  earth 
with  his  goodness :  to  this  day  does  he  clothe  the  grass  and  the 
flowers  with  the  same  profusion  of  ornament!  to  this  day  does  he 
/eed  the  young  ravens  when  they  cry,  (Psalm  cxlvii.  9,)  nor  is 
the  meanest  species  of  insects  perished.  Still  does  he  know  our 
necessities  ;  and  still  he  addresses  us  in  the  same  gracious  lan- 
guage, and  avows  the  same  endearing  paternal  relation.  The  ex- 
perience of  his  power,  goodness,  and  fidelity,  is  increasing  with 
every  succeeding  generation,  with  every  revolving  day.  The  life 
that  he  has  given,  is  supported  by  his  care;  and  the  same  hand 
that  formed  the  body,  nourishes  and  clothes  it.  Let  us  then  cast 
all  our  care  on  him.  as  being  persuaded  that  he  carethforus. 
(1  Peter  v.  7.)  Feeble  as  his  little  flock  is,  it  is  the  Father's 
good  pleasure  to  give  us  the  kingdom;  and  we  are  unworthy  of 
our  share  in  so  gloiious  a  hope,  if  we  cannot  trust  him  for  iiiferior 
blessings,  and  refer  it  to  him  to  judge,  in  what  manner  our  pre- 
sent wants  are  to  be  supplied. 

Let  the  heathens  abandon  themselves  to  these  low  anxieties  ; 
but  as  for  us,  let  us  thank  God,  and  take  courage,  opening  our 
hearts  wide  to  every  sentiment  oi  faith  in  God,  and  charity  to 
men;  and  while  we  have  this  inexhaustible  hank  to  diaw  upon, 
let  us  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  com- 
municate, so  laying  up  in  store  for  ourselves  a  good  foundation 
against  the  time  to  come,  thzt  we  may  lay  hold  on  eternal  life  ! 
{^\  Tim.  vi.  18,  19,)  the  very  hope  and  expectation  of  which,  if 


tOXJR    GOSPELS.  239 

our  heart  be  set  upon  it,  will  give  us  incomparably  sweeter  delight 
than  the  securest  possessions  of  this  empty  world,  and  the  most 
ample  magazine-)  of  its  richest  stores. 


SECTION  XLL 

Luke  xii.  36 — 48. 

Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  i/ow;*  lights  burning  : 
and  ye  your.s.elves  like  unto  men  that  waii  for  their 
Lord,  when  he  will  return  from  the  weddinof ;  that  when 
he  corneth  Rnd  knocketh,  they  may  open  unto  him  innne* 
diately.  Blessed  are  those  servants,  whom  the  Lord 
when  he  cometh  shall  find  watching  :  verily  I  say  unto 
you,  That  he  shall  gird  himself,  and  niake  them  to  sit 
down  to  meat,  and  will  come  forth  and  serve  them. 
And  if  he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or  come  in 
the  th^rd  watch,  and  find  them  so,  blessed  are  those  ser- 
vants. And  this  know,  that  if  the  good  man  of  the 
house  had  known  what  hour  the  thief  would  come,  he 
would  have  watched,  and  not  have  suJfFered  his  house 
to  be  broken  through.  Be  ye  therefore  ready  also  :  for 
the  Son  of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye  think  not. 

Then  Peter  said  unto  him.  Lord,  speakest  thou  this 
parable  unto  us,  or  even  to  all  ?  And  the  Lord  said, 
Who  then  is  that  faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom  his 
lord  shall  make  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give  thein 
their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season  ?  Blessed  is  that 
servant,  whom  his  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  so 
doing.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  will  make 
him  ruler  over  all  that  he  hath.  But  and  if  that  ser- 
vant say  in  his  heart,  i^.Iy  lord  delayeth  his  coming  ;  and 
shall  begin  to  beat  the  men  servants  and  maidens,  and  to 
eat  and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken  ;,  the  lord  ot  that  ser- 
vant will  come  in  a  day  when  he  looketh  noifor  him,  and 
at  an  hour  when  he  is  not  aware,  and  will  cut  him  in 
sunder,  and  will  appoint  him  his  portion  with  the  un- 
believers.    And    that  servant  which   knew   his   lord's 


240  HAlJi>5(>>Y   OF  THE 

will,  and  prepared  not  himself <,  neither  did  according  to 
Ins  will,  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes.  But  he  that 
knew  not,  and  did  coniriiit  things  worthy  of  stripes,  shall 
be  beaten  with  tew  stripes,  for  unto  whomsoever  much 
is  given,  of  him  shall  be  much  required  :  and  to  whom 
men  have  committed  much,  of  him  will  they  ask  the 
more. 

May  our  souls  be  awakened  by  these  awful  tiuths !  and  may 
we  be  engaged  to  gird  up  the  loius  of  our  mind,  to  be  sober,  and, 
watch  to  the  end!     (1  Peter  i.  13.) 

Great  are  our  encouragements  to  diligence,  on  the  one  hand ; 
and,  on  the  other,  dreadful  will  be  the  punishment  of  our  neglect. 
The  time  of  our  Lord's  appearance  is  uncertain ;  let  us  therelore 
always  be  ready  ;  solicitous  that,  when  he  comes,  he  may  find 
us  so  doing,  a*  he  has  required:  living  not  to  ourselves,  but  to 
him,  and  employing  oaiseb.es  about  that  particular  thing,  what- 
soever it  ma}'  be,  which,  all  circumstances  considered,  we  are 
vfcrily  persuaded,  may  most  promote  the  great  ends  of  hfe,  and  tlje 
impoitant  purposes  of  his  glory. 

How  glorious  are  the  rewards  promised  to  such  !  How  justly 
may  they  awaken  our  emulation  !  He  will  prefer  them  to  stations 
of  more  honourable  and  important  service.  He  will  set  them 
down  at  his  table,  and  minister  (as  it  were)  himself  to  then-  de- 
light, bringing  forth  the  choicest  dainties  of  heaven,  and  spreading 
before  them  an  eternal  banquet.  Lord,  may  we,  through  thy 
grace,  be  found  worthy  to  taste  of  that  supper  !  May  the  Lamb 
that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  feed  us,  and  guide  us  to  foun- 
tains of  living  waters  !     (Rev.  vii.  17.) 

On  the  other  hand,  let  us  seriously  consider  the  punishments  to 
be  inliicted  on  the  unfaithful  servant.  Let  ministers,  if  such 
there  are.  who  abandon  themselves  to  a  life  oi idleness  and  luxury ; 
who  stain  their  sacred  character  by  intemperance ;  who  proudly 
censure  their  brethren,  and  either  call,  or  wish,  iox  the  secular  arm 
to  smite  their  fellow-servants,  ^^erhaps  more  faithful  than  them- 
selves ;  let  such  hear  and  tremble.  Their  Lord  may  come  in  a 
very  unexpected  hour ;  (as  indeed,  when  do  such  expect  him.') 
and  what  are  the  stripes  they  have  given  others,  when  compaied 
with  those  which  they  shall  themselves  receive  ?  stripes  which 
shall  cut  them  asunder,  and  pierce  deep  into  their  very  souls  I 
How  much  more  tolerable  will  it  be,  even  for  the  worst  of  Gentile 
sinners,  than  for  such  ! 

Let  all  who  are  in  any  measure  distinguished  by  the  gifts  of  the 
Divine  bounty  to  them,  or  by  their  stations,  whether  in  civil  or 
sacred  offices,  attentively  dwell  on  this  great  truth,  so  solemnly 
repeated  again  and  again;  let  them  consider  it  with  a  view  to 
their  own  account :     To  whomsoever  much  is  given^  of  him  will 


FOITR    GOSPELS.  241 

much  be  required.  May  Divine  Grace  so  impress  it  on  their 
hearts,  that  they  may  be  distinguished  by  present  fidelity,  and  fu- 
ture rewards,  in  proportion  to  the  difference,  which  Providence 
has  already  made  in  their  favour !  And  may  they  never  have  rea- 
son to  reflect  with  confusion  and  anguish  on  what  is  now  Iheir 
honour  and  their  joy  ! 


SECTION  XLII. 

Lure  xi[.  49 — 59. 

I  AM  come  lo  send  fire  on  the  earth  ;  and  what  will  I,  if 
it  be  already  kindled.  But  I  have  a  baptism  to  be  bap- 
tized with  ;  and  how  am  1  straitened  till  it  be  accom- 
plished! Suppose  ye  that  I  am  come  to  give  peace  on 
earth  ?  I  tell  you,  Nay  ;  but  rather  division  :  For  from 
henceforth  there  shall  be  five  in  one  house  divided,  three 
against  two,  and  two  against  three.  The  father  shall 
be  divided  against  the  son,  anfl  the  son  against  the  fa- 
ther; the  mother  against  the  daughter,  and  the  daughter 
against  the  mother ;  the  mother-in-law  against  her 
daughter-in-law,  and  the  daughter  in-law  against  her 
mother-in-law. 

And  he  said  also  to  the  people,  When  ye  see  a  cloud 
rise  out  of  the  west,  straightway  ye  say,  There  cometh 
a  shower  ;  and  so  it  is.  And  when  ye  see  the  south 
wind  blow,  ye  say.  There  will  be  heat ;  and  it  cometh 
to  pass.  Ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the 
sky  and  of  the  earth  ;  but  how  is  it  that  ye  do  not  dis- 
cern this  time  ?  Yea,  and  why  even  of  yourselves 
judge  >e  not  what  is  right  ? 

When  thou  goest  with  thine  adversary  to  the  magis- 
trate, as  thou  art  in  the  way,  give  diligence  that  thou 
mayest  be  dehvered  from  him  ;  lest  he  hale  thee  to  the 
judge,  and  the  judge  deliver  thee  to  the  ofl5cer,  and  the 
officer  cast  thee  into  prison.  I  tell  thee,  thou  shalt  not 
depart  thence,  till  thou  hast  paid  the  very  last  mite. 

22 


242  HAKMONY    OF    THE 

To  what  a  lamentable  degree  is  human  nature  corrupted,  that  s& 
noble  a  remedy  as  the  gospel,  so  well  adapted  to  the  cure  of  a' 
malevolent  and  contentious  disposition,  should  in  so  many  instan- 
ces only  irritate  the  disease  !  and  that  a  scheme  so  full  of  love 
and  goodness,  and  so  well  suited  to  promote  peace  and  harmony 
in  those,  who  cordially  embrace  it,  should  be  opposed  with  all  the 
violence  of  persecution,  and  be  the  means  of  introducing  strife  and 
division  ! 

How  monstrous  is  it,  that  any  should  hate  their  neighhours, 
yea,  and  their  nearest  relatives,  for  that  disinterested  piety,  and 
regard  to  conscience,  which  might  recommend  strangers  to  their 
esteem  and  affection  !  Yet  let  not  those,  who  meet  with  such  in- 
jurious treatment,  be  discouraged ;  knowing  they  have  a  Father 
and  a  Saviour  in  heaven,  whose  love  is  ten  thousand  times  more 
than  all :  nor  let  others  be  offended  ;  as  if  Christianity  had  been 
the  occasion  of  more  evil  than  good;  for  such  is  the  nature  of 
eternity,  that  the  salvation  of  one  immortal  soul  will  be  more  than 
an  equivalent  for  the  greatest  and  most  lasting  temporal  evils, 
which  the  greatest  number  of  peisons  can  suffer  for  conscience 
sake 

Let  this  awaken  our  zeal  to  save  souls,  however  great  and  ter- 
rible the  sufferings  are,  to  which  it  may  expose  us,  in  proportion 
to  the  rage^  with  which  the  enemy  is  endeavouring  their  destruc- 
tion. May  we  be  animated  in  it  by  the  example  of  the  blessed 
Jesus,  who,  with  a  view  to  this,  even  longedfor  those  sufferings, 
which  innocent  nature  could  not  but  regard  as  the  object  of  strong 
aveision ! 


May  w'e  at  all  times  be  so  wise  as  to  discern  the  evidences,  and 
to  comply  with  the  purposes,  of  the  gospel,  else  our  knowledge  in 
natural  things,  should  it  extend  not  only  to  the  most  common, 
but  the  most  curious  appeal  ances  on  the  face  of  the  earth  or  the 
heavens,  will  turn  to  no  other  account  but  to  shame  and  condemn 
us ! 

If  we  have  any  reason  to  fear  that,  through  obstinate  impeni- 
tence, the  blessed  God  is  still  an  adversary  to  us,  let  us  make  it 
our  first  and  greatest  care,  that,  by  an  humble  submission  of  soul 
to  him  in  the  methods  of  his  gospel  grace,  that  strict  scrutiny  of 
his  justice  may  be  prevented,  and  that  sentence  of  his  wrath 
averted,  which  would  otherwise  plunge  us  into  endless  ruin  and 
misery  ;  for  when  could  we  pretend  to  ]i^\e  paid  the  last  farthing 
of  the  debt  of  ten  thousand  talents,  which  we  have  been  daily 
contracting,  and  which  is  charged  to  our  account  in  the  book  of 
his  remembrance  ? 


FOUR    OOSPELSL.  243 

SECTION    XLIII. 

Luke  xiit    1 — 9. 

There  were  present  at  that  season  some  that  told  him 
of  the  Galileans,  whose  blood  Pilate  had  mingled  with 
their  sacrifices.  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  ihem, 
Suppose  ye  that  these  G^ilileans  were  sinners  nbove  all 
the  Galileans,  because  they  suffered  such  things  ?  I  tell 
you,  Nay :  but,  except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish.  Or  those  eigiiteen,  upon  whom  the  tower  in 
Siloam  fell,  and  slew  them,  think  ye  that  they  were 
sinners  above  all  men  that  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  ?  I  tell 
you,  Nay  :  but.  except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise 
perish. 

He  spake  also  this  parable  :  A  certain  man  had  a  fig- 
tree  planted  in  his  vineyard,  and  he  came  and  sought 
fruit  thereon,  and  found  none.  Then  said  he  unto  the 
dresser  of  his  vineyard.  Behold,  these  three  years  I 
come  seeking  fruit  on  this  fig-tree,  and  find  none  :  cut  it 
down  ;  why  cuml-ereth  it  the  ground  ?  And  he  answer- 
ing  said  unto  him,  Lord,  let  it  alone  this  year  also,  till  I 
shall  dig  about  it,  and  dung  it:  And  if  it  bear  fruit, 
well ;  and  if  not,  then  after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it  down. 

Which  of  us  may  not  learn  a  lesson  for  himself  from  this  in- 
structive parable  of  the^o-  tree  ?  Have  we  not  long  been  planted 
in  God's  vineyard,  and  favoured  with  the  cultivation  of  his  ordi- 
nances, yea,  with  the  duvvs  of  his  grace  too ;  and  yet  how  little 
fruit  have  we  borne  in  proportion  to  those  advantages  ?  How 
long  has  he  co>7ie  seeking  it  in  vain,  while  we  have  frustrated  the 
most  reasonable  expectations,  perhaps  not  only  for  three,  but 
several  of  us  for  more  than  thirty  years?  Wonderful  is  it,  that 
the  dreadful  sentence  has  not  long  since  gone  forth  against  us. 
Out  them  down,  why  cumber  they  the  ground  ?  We  owe  it  to 
the  intercession  of  our  blessed  Redeemer^  the  Great  Keeper  of  the 
garden  of  God,  that  this  has  not  long  since  been  our  case.  I..et 
us  not  be  high-minded  but  fear!  (Rom.  xi.  20.)  Let  barren  sin- 
ners reflect,  that  this  may  be  the  last  year,  perhaps  indeed  the 
last  month,  or  last  day  of  their  trial ;  for  even  now  also  is  the  ax 


244  HARMONY    OF    THE 

laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree !  (Matt.  iii.  10.)  And  let  them  remem- 
ber, that  though  there  be  hope  of  a  tree,  when  it  is  cut  down,  that 
it  may  sprout  again,  (Job  xiv.  7,)  yet,  when  the  doom  is  exe- 
cuted on  them,  their  root  will  be  as  rottenness,  and  their  blossom 
will  go  up  like  dust,  ( Isa.  v.  24;)  and  every  tree  which  brings 
not  forth  goodfruit,  will  be  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 

Let  such  therefore  meditate  terror,  when  the  Judgments  of  God 
are  abroad  in  the  earth;  and,  when  others  are  overwhelmed  in 
ruin,  let  them  not  harshly  censure  the  sufferers,  as  if  they  were 
greater  sinners  than  any  others  ;  but  let  them  apply  that  salutary, 
though  awful  admonition  to  their  own  soul;:,  repeating  it  again 
and  again,  till  they  are  pricked  to  the  heart  by  it,  Except  ye  re- 
pent, ye  shall  all  likewise  perish. 

Terrible  indeed  was  the  case  of  those,  whose  blood  Pilate  min- 
gled with  their  sacrifices,  and  of  those  who  were  dashed  to  pieces 
in  a  moment  by  the  fall  of  Siloam^s  tower;  but  infinitely  more 
dreadful  Avill  be  the  condition  of  them,  that/fl//  into  the  hands  of 
the  living  God,  (Heb.  x.  31,)  especially  of  those  deceivers,  who, 
having  surrounded  his  altars  with  the  hypocritical  forms  of  devo- 
tion, shall  themselves  be  made  the  victims  of  his  justice,  aijd  be 
crushed,  by  the  resistless  weight  of  his  almighty  vengeance. 


SECTION  XLIV. 

Luke  xiii.  10 — 21. 

Amd  he  was  teaching  in  one  of  the  synagogues  on  the 
Sabbath.  And,  behold,  there  was  a  woman  which  had 
a  spirit  of  infirmity  eighteen  years,  and  was  bowed  to- 
gether, and  could  in  no  wise  lift  up  herself.  And  when 
Jesus  saw  her,  he  called  her  to  him^  and  said  unto  her, 
Woman,  thou  art  loosed  from  thine  infirmity.  And  he 
laid  his  hands  on  her  :  and  immediately  she  was  made 
straight,  and  glorified  God.  And  the  ruler  of  the  syna- 
gogue answered  with  indignation,  because  that  Jesus 
had  healed  on  the  sabbath-day,  and  said  unto  the  peo- 
ple, There  are  six  days  in  which  men  ought  to  work  : 
in  them  therefore  come  and  be  healed,  and  not  on  the 
sabbath-day.  The  Lord  then  answered  him,  and  said. 
Thou  hypocrite,  doth  not  each  one  of  you  on  the  sab- 
bath loose  his  ox  or  his  ass  from  the  stall,  and  lead  him 
away  to  watering  ?     And  ought  not  this  woman,  being 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  245 

a  daugfhter  of  Abraham,  whom  Satan  halh  bound,  lo, 
these  eighteen  years,  be  loosed  from  this  bond  on  the 
sabbath-day  ?  And  when  he  had  said  these  things  all 
his  adversaries  were  ashamed  :  and  all  the  people  re- 
joiced for  all  the  glorious  things  that  were  done  by  him. 
Then  said  he,  Unto  what  is  the  kingdom  of  God 
like  ?  and  whereunto  shall  I  resemble  it  ?  It  is  like  a 
grain  of  mustard-seed,  which  a  man  took,  and  cast  into 
his  garden  ;  and  it  grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree  ;  and 
the  fowls  of  the  air  lodged  in  the  branches  of  it.  And 
again  he  said,  Whereunto  shall  I  liken  the  kingdom  of 
God  ?  It  is  like  leaven,  which  a  woman  took  and  hid  in 
thr«e  measures  of  meal,  till  the  whole  was  leavened. 


Again  do  we  see,  in  a  very  instructive  instance,  the  power  and 
goodness  of  Christ.  It  wrought  on  a  poor  despised  creature ;  but 
our  Lord  considered  her  as  a  daughter  of  Abraham,  and  honoured, 
even  in  her,  whatever  traces  of  her  father  Abraham's  faith  and 
p4ety  his  penetrating  eye  might  discern.  Her  zeal  and  willing- 
ness to  attend  on  public  worship  brought  her  out,  though  she 
could  not  stand  upright,  and  had  probably  in  that  respect  a  much 
better  excuse  for  staying  at  home  than  many  could  make,  who 
now  often  absent  themselves  from  the  much  nobler  services  of  the 
Christian  sanctuary. 

She  met  with  Christ  in  the  synagogue^  and  returned  with  a 
cure.  And  oh,  how  many,  as  the  effect  of  such  a  pious  zeal, 
though  they  have  not  been  loosed  from  their  infirmities,  have  at 
least  been  greatly  strengthened  to  bear  them. 

Our  Lord  says  that  Satan  had  bound  her.  That  malignant 
enemy  to  our  bodies  and  souls  rejoices  in  any  opportunity  of  hurt- 
ing either.  But  it  is  pleasing  to  think,  that  his  power  is  always 
under  the  controul  of  Christ ;  and  therefore  shall  never  be  exer- 
cised on  his  people  any  farther  than  their  gracious  Redeemer  sees 
it  consistent  with  their  good,  and  will  take  care  to  render  it  sub- 
servient to  it. 

How  gravely  does  thi.s  ruler  of  the  synagogue  instruct  the  peo- 
ple in  a  point  of  ceremony,  while  his  heart  was  full  of  enmity  to 
Christ,  and  hardened  against  every  sentiment  of  human  compas- 
sion !  Justly  was  his  hypocrisy  confounded  ?nd  exposed. 

We  should  with  pleasure  see  this  Sun  of  Righteousness  thus 
victoriously  breaking  through  those  clouds,  which  envy  and  mar 
lice  had  raised  to  obscure  him,  and  diffusing  his  sacred  light  frona 
one  end  of  the  heavens  to  the  other.  With  pleasure  should  we 
view  the  accomplishment  of  these  parables,  which  represent  the 

22* 


246  HARMONY    OF    JHE 

success  of  his  gospel  as  so  great ;  and  we  should  daily  pray,  with 
increasing  earnestness,  that  all  the  remaining  nations  and  king- 
doms of  this  world  may  at  length  become  the  kingdoms  of  the 
Lord  and  of  his  Christ:  and  sincere  converts  flock  to  him  from 
every  side,  even  as  doves  to  their  windows/  CRev.  xi  15,  and 
Isaiah  Ix.  8.) 


SECTION  XLV. 

Luke  xiii.  22 — 35. 

And  he  went  through  the  cities  and  villages,  teaching, 
and  journeying  towards  Jerusalem.  Then  said  one 
unto  him,  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved  ?  And  he 
said  unto  them,  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  :  for 
many,  I  say  unto  you,  will  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall 
not  be  able.  When  once  the  master  of  the  house  is 
risen  up,  and  hath  shut  to  the  door,  and  ye  begin  to 
stand  without,  and  to  knock  at  the  door,  saying,  Lord, 
Lord,  open  unto  us  ;  and  he  shall  answer  and  say  unto 
you,  1  know  you  not  whence  ye  are  :  Then  shall  ye  be- 
gin to  say.  We  have  eaten  and  drunk  in  thy  presence, 
and  thou  hast  taught  in  our  streets.  But  he  shall  say,  I 
tell  you,  I  know  you  not  whence  ye  are  ;  depart  from 
me,  all  ye  workers  of  iniquity.  There  shall  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth,  when  ye  shall  see  Abraham,  and 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets,  in  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  you  yourselves  thrust  out.  And  they  shall 
come  from  the  east,  and  froi7i  the  west,  and  from  the 
north,  and  from  the  south,  and  shall  sit  down  in  the 
kingdom  of  God.  And  behold,  there  are  last  which 
shall  be  first,  and  there  are  first  which  shall  be  last. 

The  same  day  there  came  certain  of  the  Pharisees; 
saying  unto  him,  Get  thee  out,  and  depart  hence  :  for 
Herod  will  kill  thee.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye, 
and  tell  that  fox,  Behold,  I  cast  out  devils,  and  1  do 
cures  to-day  and  to-morrow,  and  the  third  day  I  shall  be 
perfected.     Nevertheless  I  must  walk  to-day,  and  to- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  247 

morrow,  and  the  day  following  :  for  it  cannot  be  that  a 
propliet  perish  out  of  Jerusalem.  O  Jerusalem,  Jeru- 
salem, which  killest  the  prophets,  and  stonest  them  that 
are  sent  unto  thee  ;  how  often  would  1  have  gathered 
thy  children  together,  as  a  hen  doth  gather  her  brood 
under  her  wings,  and  ye  would  not !  Behold,  your 
house  is  left  unto  you  desolate  :  and  verily  I  say  unto  you, 
ye  shall  not  see  me  until  the  time  come  when  ye  shall 
say,  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 


And  who  would  not  welcome  such  a  Saviour,  when  he  appears 
on  so  kind  a  desio;n  !  who  would  cot  bless  him  that  comelhin  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  to  gather  our  souls  with  the  tenderest  care 
and  to  shelter  us  from  wrath  arid  ruin  I  that  i> av tour  ^ho%e  bow- 
els yearned  orer  ws,  and  vfhoie  heart  poured  forth  iis  blood  for 
us  I  Too  many  reject  him,  and  will  not  hearken  to  the  kindest 
calls  of  his  compassionate  voice.  Unhappy  creatures  I  the  time 
will  come,  when  they  too  late  will  be  convinced  of  their  fatal 
error. 

Let  each  of  us  be  solicitous  for  himself.  Away  with  those 
vain  curiosities,  which  serve  only  to  amuse  and  distract  our 
thoughts.  Let  us  call,  and  fix  them  down  to  the  great  concerns 
of  our  own  salvation  :  and,  if  we  would  secure  it,  let  us  pre- 
pare to  encounter  difficulties,  and  strive,  as  for  our  lives,  to 
break  through  all  the  opposition  of  our  enemies,  and  resolutely 
to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gale.  How  many  have  sought  it,  when 
the  door  has  been  barred?  and  how  soon  may  the  great  Master 
of  the  house  arise  and  sJait  it  for  over  against  those  who  are  yet 
trifling ! 

Let  not  hypocrites  trust  in  vain  words.  The  workers  of  ini- 
quity shall  be  disowned  by  Christ  at  last,  though  they  may  have 
eaten  and  drank  in  his  presence.  But  oh,  who  can  express  the 
disappointment,  the  rage,  and  despair,  of  those  who  fall  from 
such  towering  hopes,  and  plunge,  as  from  the  very  gates  of 
heaven,  into  the  lowest  abyss  of  darkness  and  horror!  Their 
hearts  will  endeavour  to  harden  themselves  in  vain  ;  their  dole- 
ful cries  shall  be  distinguished  in  that  resfion  of  universal  hor- 
for  I  but  they  shall  not  penetrate  the  regions  of  the  blessed, 
nor  interrupt  the  delight,  with  which  even  the  dearest  of  their 
pioics  relatives  shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

If  we  through  grace  have  more  substantial  hopes,  let  us  imi- 
tate the  zeal  and  courage  of  our  Divine  Leader;  and,  what- 
ever threatenings  or  dangers  may  oppose,  let  us  go  on  day  after 
day,  till  our  work  be  done,  and  our  souls  at  length  ferfected  in 


248  HARMONY    OF    THE 

glory.  But  let  us  carefully  distinguish  between  those  things, 
in  which  our  Lord  meant  himself  as  our  Pattern,  and  those 
which  were  peculiar  to  his  office  as  a  Prophet  stnt  from  God. 
That  extraordinary  office  justified  him  in  using  that  severity  of 
language.,  when  speaking  of  wicked  princts  and  corrupt  teachers, 
to  which  we  have  no  call ;  and  by  which  we  should  only  bring 
scandal  on  religion,  and  ruin  on  ourselves,  while  we  irritated, 
rather  than  convinced  or  reformed,  those  whom  we  undertooli 
so  indecently  to  rebuke. 


SECTION  XLVI. 
Luke  xiv.  1 — 14. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  went  into  the  house  of  one 
of  the  chief  Pharisees  to  eat  bread  on  the  sabbath-day, 
that  they  watched  him.  And,  behold,  there  was  a  cer- 
tain man  before  him  which  had  the  dropsy.  And  Jesus 
answering  spake  unto  the  lawyers,  and  Pharisees,  say- 
ing. Is  it  lawful  to  heal  on  the  sabbath-day  ?  And  they 
held  their  peace.  And  he  took  him,  and  healed  him,  and 
let  him  go  ;  and  answered  them,  saying,  Which  of  you 
shall  have  an  ass  or  an  ox  fallen  into  a  pit,  and  will  not 
straightway  pull  him  out  on  the  sabbath-day  ?  And  they 
could  not  answer  him  again  to  these  things. 

And  he  put  forth  a  parable  to  those  which  were  bid- 
den, when  he  marked  how  they  chose  out  the  ch4ef 
rooms  ;  saying  unto  them,  When  thou  art  bidden  of  any 
man  to  a  wedding,  sit  not  down  in  the  highest  room  ; 
lest  a  more  honourable  man  than  thou  be  bidden  of  him  : 
and  he  that  bade  thee  and  him  come  and  say  to  thee, 
Give  this  man  place  ;  and  thou  begin  with  shame  to 
take  the  lowest  room.  But  when  thou  art  bidden,  go  and 
sit  down  in  the  lowest  room  :  that  when  he  that  bade  thee 
cometh,  he  may  say  unto  thee,  Friend,  go  up  higher : 
then  shalt  thou  have  worship  in  the  presence  of  them 
that  sit  at  meat  with  thee.  For  whosoever  exalteth  him- 
self shall  be  abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall 
be  exalted. 

Then  said  be  also  to  him  that  bade  him,  When  thou 


FOUR  GOSPELS. 


249 


makest  a  dinner  or  a  supper,  call  not  thy  friends,  nor 
thy  brethren,  neither  thy  kinsmen,  nor  thy  rich  neigh- 
bours ;  lest  they  also  bid  thee  again,  and  a  recompense 
be  made  thee.  But  when  thou  makest  a  feast,  call  the 
poor,  the  maimed,  the  lame,  the  blind  :  and  thou  shalt 
be  blessed  :  for  they  cannot  recompense  thee  :  for  thou 
shalt  be  recompensed  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 

How  happy  were  they,  who  had  frequent  opportunities  of 
conversing  with  Chrht  whose  discourses  were  alway?  so  wise 
and  so  useful  :  how  well  did  he  repay  all  the  entertainments 
he  received,  in  the  ;\dvanta2;es  which  he  gave  for  religious 
improvement  !  In  vain  might  his  enemies  watch  for  oc<a?ion9 
against  him.  In  his  tons^ne  ivas  the  law  of  wisdom  as  well  as 
of  kindness.  (Prov.  xxxi.  i26.)  And  surely  the  lips  of  his  min- 
isters and  disciples  would  feed  many  to  their  everlasting  ber»efit, 
were  this  blessed  model  to  be  more  carefully  traced  1  (Prov, 
X.  21.) 

Let  us  particularly  observe,  what  he  here  says  concerning  a 
modest  and  himible  deportment,  which  is  indeed  the  surest  way 
to  be  honoured  and  respected.  And  let  us  take  great  heed,  that 
that  good  breeding,  which  consists  so  much  in  the  expressions 
oi humility  and  readiness  to  prefer  others  to  ourselves,  do  not 
degenerate  into  a  mere  form,  and  prove,  as  it  too  often  does, 
the  cloak  of  arrogance  and  pride;  but  that  it  have  its  founda- 
tion in  a  lowly  opinion  of  ourselves,  and  an  habitual  disposi- 
tion to  submit  even  to  our  inferiors,  when  we  may  do  it  with- 
out breaking  in  upon  the  duties  jcind  decencies  of  life,  and  in- 
juring those  to  whom  it  may  be  exercised,  by  an  indulgence 
which  they  know  not  how  to  understand  and  improve. 

I^et  us  hearken  to  these  exhortations  to  charity  from  the 
mouth  of  our  charitable  Savioxir,,  who  gave  himself  for  %is.  And 
as  Christ  pleased  not  himself  (Rom.  xv.  3,)  let  us  not  allow  our- 
selves to  squander  away  great  quantities  of  money,  in  what 
may  gratify  our  own  senses,  or  make  a  gaudy  shew  in  the  eyes 
of  the  vainer  part  of  mankind  ;  but  let  us  be  willing  to  spare 
from  the  luxuries  and  superfluities  of  life,  that  we  may  bestow 
it  on  the  poor  and  distressed.  And  indeed,  whatever  our  cir- 
cumstances and  possessions  be.  we  must  expect  that  the  stream 
of  our  bounty  w'lW  soon  be  dried  up,  if  it  be  not  supplied  from 
the  fountain  of  ?i  ^rxxdeni  frugality.  This  self-denial  may  now 
in  some  instances  be  painful  ;  but  it  will  be  amply  recompensed 
at  the  resurrection  of  the  just.  May  we  then  meet  with  many, 
whom  our  liberality  has  fed  and  clothed,  whom  our  knowledge 
and   zeal  have  instructed,  and  whom  our  holy  example  have 


260  HARMONY    OF   THE 

edified  and  quickened  !  Here  will  be  a  foundation  laid  for  the 
endearments  of  an  eternal,  f/kcndship ;  when  that  which  has 
been  formed  upon  a  partnership  in  vice,  or  animal  pleasure, 
shall  be  for  ever  forg;otten,  or  be  remembered  with  mutual 
horror. 


SECTION  XLVII. 
Luke  xiv.  16 — 24. 

And  when  one  of  them  that  sat  at  meat  with  him  heard 
these  things,  he  said  unto  him,  Blessed  is  he  that  shall 
eat  bread  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  Then  said  he  unto 
him,  A  certain  man  made  a  great  supper,  and  bade 
many  :  and  sent  his  servant  at  supper-time  to  say  to  them 
that  were  bidden,  Come  ;  for  all  things  are  now  ready. 
And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to  make  excuse. 
The  first  said  unto  him,  I  have  bought  a  piece  of  ground, 
and  I  must  needs  go  and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have  me 
excused.  And  another  said,  I  have  bought  five  yoke  of 
oxen,  and  I  go  to  prove  them  :  I  pray  thee  have  me  ex- 
cused. And  another  said,  I  have  married  a  wife,  and 
therefore  I  cannot  come.  So  that  servant  came,  and 
shewed  his  lord  these  things.  Then  the  master  of  the 
house  being  angry  said  'to  his  servant.  Go  out  quickly 
into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither 
the  poor,  and  the  maimed,  and  the  halt,  and  the  blind. 
And  the  servant  said.  Lord,  it  is  done  as  thou  hast  com- 
manded, and  yet  there  is  roojn.  And  the  lord  said  unto 
the  servant.  Go  out  into  the  high-ways  and  hedges,  and 
compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may  be  filled. 
For  I  say  unto  you,  that  none  of  those  men  which  were 
bidden  shall  taste  of  my  supper. 

May  the  infinite  mercy  of  God  forbid,  that  this  should  ever 
be  our  condition  ?  Tho  gospel  feast,  like  the  sumptuous  banquet 
of  Ahasuerus  (Esth.  i.  3,  4,)  is  of  a  very  long  standing;  not 
only  from  week  to  week  but  from  age  to  age,  God  is  sending 
to  invite  new  guests  :  and,  after  all  the  millions  that  have  been 
regaled  by  it,  and  nourished   up  to  everlasting  life,  there  is  yet 


POUR    GOSPELS.  25 1 

room  for  more.  Still  are  his  servants  sent  from  one  time  to 
another,  with  all  the  fervor  of  the  most  affectioniite  persuasioQ, 
to  urge  sinners  to  accept  of  these  desirable  blessings  I  (for  such 
only  is  the  compulsion  that  becomes  a  feast,  and  suits  the  nature 
of  reasoriable  creatures  )  May  we  not  receive  the  grace  of  God 
in  vain!  May  we  not  perish,  as  thousands  before  us  have  done 
by  making  light  of  the  gospel  I 

It  has  often  been  observed  from  this  parable,  that  they  were 
lawful  occasions  which  these  unhappy  people  pleaded  as  their 
excuse  for  neglecting  the  invitation.  And  how  many  perish  by 
what  is  indeed  lawful!  But  the  care  of  our  e.s/a/e.';  or  ca///e,  our 
domestic  affairs,  and  our  dearest  relatives,  will  be  destructive  to 
us,  if  they  be  minded  as  our  m,ai7i  care,  and  our  hearts  be  so  at- 
tentive to  them  as  to  lorget  the  one  thing  needful. 

Are  we  of  the  number  of  those  who,  though  once  blinded, 
impoverished  and  enfeebled  by  sin.  and  now  brought  as  wel- 
come gfuests  to  the  faftZe.  which  Divine  love  ha?  spread?  Let 
us  adore  the  grace  which  openelh  the  door  to  us,  and  opened  our 
hearts  to  comply  with  the  call  ;  by  its  strong  and  powerful 
though  rational  and  gentle  infiuei^ce.  cojnpe/ling  us  to  come  in. 
Let  the  servants  employed  in  the  message  urge  it  with  a  becom- 
ing earDestnesf ;  as  well  knowing,  how  much  the  heart  of  their 
great  master  is  in  it,  and  how  much  the  happiness  of  souls  de- 
pends on  their  accepting  it.  Lord!  may  we  see  thy  table  fur- 
nished with  guests,  and  ourselves  be  so  happy  as  finally  to  par- 
take of  those  blessing-f,  to  which  we  are  now  commanded  to  in- 
vite others  I  For  blessed  indeed  are  they,  who  shall  eat  bread  in 
the  kingdom  of  God! 

SECTION  XLVllI. 

Luke  xiv,  26 — 35. 

And  there  went  great  multitudes  with  him  :  and  he 
turned,  and  said  unto  them,  If  any  man  come  to  me,  and 
hate  not  his  father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and  children, 
and  brethren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  life  also,  he 
cannot  be^my  disciple.  And  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his 
cross,  and  come  after  me,  cannot  be  my  disciple.  For 
which  of  you,  intending  to  build  a  tower,  sitteth  not 
down  first,  and  counteth  the  cost,  whether  he  have  siiffi- 
dent  to  finish  it  ?  lest  haply,  after  he  hath  laid  the  foun- 
dation, and  is  not  able  to  finish  it^  all  that  behold  it  be- 
gin to  mock  him,  saying,  This  man  began  to  build,  and 


252  HARMONY    OF   THE 

was  not  able  to  finish.  Or  what  king,  going  to  make 
war  against  another  king,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and 
consulteth  whether  he  be  able  with  ten  thousand  to 
meet  hias  that  cometh  against  him  with  twenty  thousand? 
Or  else,  while  the  other  is  yet  a  great  way  oflf,  he  sendelh 
an  ambassage,  and  desireth  conditions  of  peace.  So 
likewise,  whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  forsaketh  not  all 
that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple.  Salt  is  good  : 
but  if  the  salt  have  lost  his  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be 
seasoned  ?  It  is  neither  fit  for  the  land,  nor  yet  for  the 
dunghill  ;  but  men  cast  it  out.  He  that  hath  ears  to 
hear,  let  him  hear. 

May  our  mo3i  serious  aittntion  be  fixed  on  so  important  a 
truth  ;  and  aiay  this  plain  and  caoJid  declaration  ol  our  Lord 
be  duly  regarded  by  us,  as  ever  we  desire  to  find  the  advantage 
of  that  relation  to  him  in  which  we  are  so  ready  to  glory  !  If 
we  would  not  be  cast  out  with  disdain,  and  trampled  under  foot 
as  worthless  and  vile,  let  us  be  solicitous  that  there  may  be  the 
salt  of  Divine  grace  in  our  hearts ;  and  let  us  undertake  a  reli- 
gious prolession  with  that  deliberate  co7isideraiion^  which  be- 
comes a  matter  of  such  great  importance.  A  hasty  purpose  will 
never  bear  ns  through  the  difficuliies  we  must  ex.iecl  to  en- 
counter ;  and  rash  vows  and  thoughtless  adventures,  in  this  case, 
will  only  expose  us  to  the  derision  of  others^  and  the  keener 
remorse  of  our  own  minds. 

Nor  is  the  nature  and  evidence  oi  religion  such  as  to  have  any 
reason  to  fear  the  severest  examination.  The  demands  of 
Christ  are  indeed  high;  that  the  nearest  relatives  should  be 
abandoned,  and  even  life  itself  sacrificed  for  his  sake;  that  we 
be  at  least  martyrs  in  resolution,  and  have  so  much  of  a  recipro- 
cal atfection  for  him,  as  shall,  like  his  lore  to  us,  be  stronger 
than  death.  Yet  how  reasonable  is  the  demand  !  Did  he  leave 
his  Father''s  bosom  for  us,  and  shall  we  scruple  to  abantion  our 
hou  es  and  our  kindred  for  him  ?  Did  he  expire  on  the  cross  tor 
us,  and  shall  not  we  be  read)'  to  take  up  our  crosses  and  follow 
him  1^  Shall  it  not  be  delightful  to  us  to  trace  his  most  painful 
steps,  and  by  the  most  costly  Sctcrifices  to  approve  our  gratitude 
and  our  duty? 

Blessed  Jesus,  lead  us  !  and  by  thy  grace  we  will  follow  thee, 
whatever  be  the  path,  whatever  he  the  burden,  whatever  the 
terror  of  the  way  ;  knowing  that  if  we  partake  with  thee  in  tlu/ 
sufferings,  we  shall  at  length  share  with  thee  in  thy  conso- 
lation and  thy  glory  I     (2  Tim,  ii.  12.) 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  253 

SECTION  XLIX. 

Luke  xv.   1 — 10. 

Then  drew  near  unto  him  all  the  publicans  and  sinners 
for  to  hear  him.  And  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes  mur- 
mured, saying,  This  man  receiveth  sinners,  and  eateth 
with  them.  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  them,  say- 
ing. What  man  of  you,  having  an  hundred  sheep,  if  he 
lose  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in 
the  wilderness,  and  go  after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he 
find  it  ?  And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it  on  his 
shoulders,  rejoicing.  And  when  he  conieth  home,  he 
called  together  his  friends  and  neighbours,  saying  unto 
them.  Rejoice  with  me :  for  I  have  found  my  sheep 
which  was  lost.  I  say  unto  you,  that  likewise  joy  shall 
be  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than 
over  ninety  and  nine  just  persons,  which  need  no  repent- 
ance. Either  what  woman  having  ten  pieces  of  silver, 
if  she  lose  one  piece,  doth  not  light  a  candle,  and  sweep 
the  house,  and  seek  diligently  till  she  find  it  ?  And  when 
she  hath  found  it,  she  calleth  lier  friends  and  her  neigh- 
bours together,  saying.  Rejoice  with  me  :  for  I  have 
found  the  piece  which  I  had  lost.  Likewise,  I  say  unto 
you,  There  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth. 

How  "graceful  and  lovely  does  our  Lord  appear,  while  thus 
opening  his  compassionate  arms  and  heart,  to  these  wretched 
outcasts,  for  whose  souls  no  man  cared  I  Who  can  choose  but 
r^'oice  at  ihis  jubilee,  which  he  proclaimed  among  them,  and  at 
the  cheerful  attention  which  they  gave  to  these  glad  tidings  of 
great  Joy?  May  we,  who  are  his  followers,  never  despise  the 
meanest  or  the  worst  of  men,  when  they  seem  disposed  to  re- 
ceive religious  instruction  ;  but  rather  exert  ourselves  with  a 
distinguished  zeal,  as  knowing  that  the  joy  of  the  heavenly  world 
in  their  recovery  will  be  in  some  measure  proportionable  to 
the  extremity  of  their  former  danger. 

Let  us  often  recollect  the  charity  and  goodness  of  those  per- 

23 


254  HARMONY    OF   THE 

fected  spirits^  who  look  down  from  their  own  glory  with  com- 
passion on  mortals  wandering  in  the  paths  of  the  destroyer^  and 
who  sing  authems  of  thankfulness  and  joy,  when  by  Divine 
grace  they  are  reclaimed  from  them.  Let  every  sinner  be 
touched  with  a  generous  desire,  that  he  who  has  been  in  so  many 
instances  the  offence  and  burden  of  the  earthy  may  become  theyo^ 
of  heaven  by  !iis  sincere  conversion.  And  let  the  solicitude  v;\ih 
which  the  little  possessions  of  this  world  are  sought,  when  they 
are  lost  by  any  accident,  engage  us  more  earnestly  to  seek  what 
is  infinitely  more  valuable,  our  own  salvation^  and  that  of  the 
immortal  souls  of  others.  May  we  in  our  different  stations  la- 
bour successfully  for  their  recovery ;  that  we  may  another  day 
share  in  that  higher  joy  which  angels  and  glorified  saints  shall 
express,  when  they  see  them  not  only  reduced  to  the  paths  of 
virtue  and  happiness,  but  fixed  in  abodes  of  eternal  glory ! 

SECTION   L. 

Luke  xv.  11—32. 

And  he  said,  a  certain  man  had  two  sons :  and  the 
younger  of  them  said  to  his  father,  Father,  give  me  the 
portion  of  goods  that  falleth  to  me.  And  he  divided 
unto  them  his  living.  And  not  many  days  after,  the 
younger  son  gatheued  all  together,  and  took  his  journey 
into  a  far  country?  and  there  wasted  his  substance  with 
riotous  living.  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there  arose 
a  mighty  famine  in  that  land  ;  and  he  began  to  be  in 
want.  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  a  citizen  of 
that  country  ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed 
swine.  x\nd  he  would  fain  have  filled  his  belly  with  the 
husks  that  the  swine  did  eat :  and  no  man  gave  unto 
him.  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  How 
many  hired  servants  of  my  father's  have  bread  enougli 
and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  with  hunger :  I  will  arise  and 
go  to  my  father  ;  and  will  say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have 
sinned  against  heaven,  and  before  thee,  and  am  no  more 
worthy  to  be  called  thy  son .  make  me  as  one  of  thy 
hired  servants.  And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father. 
But  when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw 
him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck, 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  255 

and  kissed  him.     And  the  son  said  unto  him,  Father,  I 
have  sinned  against  heaven,  and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no 
more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son.     But  the  Father  said 
to  his  servants,  Bring  forth  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on 
him  ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet : 
And  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf,  and  kill  it :  and  let  us 
eat,  and  be  merry  :     For  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is 
alive  again  ;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.     And  they  be- 
gan to  be  merry.     Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field  : 
and  as  he  came  and  drew  nigh  to  the  house,  he  heard 
music  and  dancing.     And  he  called  one  of  the  servants, 
and  asked  what  these  things  meant.     And  he  said  unto 
him,  Thy  brother  is  come,  and  thy  father  hath  killed 
the  fatted  calf,  because  he  hath   received  him  safe  and 
sound.     And   he   was  angry,    and  would  not   go  in: 
therefore  came  his  father  out,  and  entreated  him.     And 
he  answering  said  to  his  father,  Lo,  these  many  years 
do  I  serve  thee,  neither   transgressed  I  at  any  time  thy 
commandment :  yet  thou  never  gavest  me  a  kid,  that  I 
might  make  merry  with  my  friends  :  but  as  soon  as  this 
thy  son   was  come,  which  hath  devoured  thy  living  with 
harlots,  thou  hast  killed   for  him  the  fatted  calf.     And 
he  said  unto   him,  Son,  thou  art  ever  with  me,  and  all 
that  I  have  is  thine.     Tt  is  meet  that  we  should  make 
merry,  and  be  glad  :  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead,  and 
is  alive  again  ;  and  was  lost,  and  is  found. 


Let  us  here  behol»,  with  all  due  attention,  the  moving;  repre- 
sentation which  our  gracious  Redeemer  makes  o(  the  folly  of  sin- 
7iers,  and  the  compassions  of  God:  compassions,  which  he  des- 
cribes, as  one  who  himself  felt  them,  and  who  in  this  respect,  as 
well  as  others,  was  tfie  express  image  of  his  Father. 

We  have  before  us  in  this  parable  a  lively  emblem  of  the 
character  and  condition  of  sinners  in  their  lallen  state.  They 
are  thus  impatient  of  the  most  necessary  restraints,  thus  fondly 
conceited  of  their  oion  wisdom  ;  and  thus,  when  enriched  by  the 
bounties  of  the  great  common  Father,  do  they  ungratefully  run 
from  him,  and  say  unto  God,  Depart  from  us,  for  we  desire  not 
the  knowledge  of  thy  ways.  (Job.  xxi.  14.)     Sensual  pleasures 


256  HARMONY    OF   THE 

are  eagerly  sought ;  and  perhaps  all  their  earthly  possessions  and 
hopes  are  quickly  paid  as  the  price  of  them.  While  the  means 
of  obtaining  these  pleasures  continue,  not  a  senows  thought  of 
God  can  find  a  place  in  their  minds :  and  then,  perhaps,  afflic- 
tions^ heavy  and  complicated  afflictions,  come  upon  them  ;  yet 
even  under  that  pressure  they  will  often  make  very  hard  shifts 
befc-  >  they  will  be  persuaded  to  think  of  a  return  ;  till  at  length 
Diviae  grace,  working  in  concurrence  with  Providence,  brings 
them  to  a  better  temper. 

When  they  see  themselves  naked  and  indigent,  enslaved  and 
undone  ;  when  they  come  to  themsel-ss,  and  recover  the  exercise 
of  their  reason,  improving  it  to  the  only  purposes  for  which 
it  would  have  been  worth  while  to  have  received  it ; — then  they 
feel  the  pangs  of  penitential  remorse  ;  then  they  remember  the 
blessings  they  have  lost,  and  attend  to  the  misery  they  have 
incurred.  And  hereupon  they  are  disposed  humbly  to  confess 
their  folly,  and  to  prostrate  themselves  in  the  presence  of  their 
heavenly  Father^ — they  put  the  resolution  immediately  into  prac- 
tice ;  they  arise  and  go  unto  him. 

But  oh,  let  us  behold  with  wonder  and  pleasure  the  gracious 
reception  they  find  from  divine  injured  goodness !  He  sees  ihem 
afar  off;  he piiies^he  meets,  and  embraces  them  ;  he  interrupts  their 
complaints  and  acknowledgments  with  tokens  of  his  returning 
favour.  Is  Ephraim  my  dear  son ?  is  he  a  pleasant  child?  for 
since  I  spake  against  him,  I  do  earnestly  remember  him  still: 
therefore  my  bowels  are  troubled  for  him ;  I  will  surely  have  mercy 
upon  him,  saith  the  Lord.  (Jer.  xxxi.  23.)  Thus  does  God 
welcome  the  humble  pejiitent :  thus  does  he  open  the  arms  of 
his  love  to  embrace  him,  and  the  treasures  of  his  bounty  to  en- 
rich him.  He  arrays  him  with  the  robe  of  a  Redeemer''s  righ- 
teousness, dresses  him  in  the  ornaments  of  sanctifying  grace, 
honours  him  with  the  tokens  of  adopting  love,  and  invests  him 
with  the  glorious  privileges  and  immunities  of  his  children.  And 
all  this  he  does  with  unutterable  delight :  he  rejoices  over  him 
with  joy ;  he  rests  in  his  love,  and,  as  it  were,  rejoices  over  him 
xoith  singing,  (Zeph.  iii.  17  ;)  and  this  is  the  joyful  language  of 
the  song,  My  children  that  were  dead,  are  alive  again;  and 
though  they  were  lost,  they  are  found. 

Let  heaven  and  earth  unite  in  the  joy,  and  echo  back  the 
song.  Let  no  elder  brother  murmur  at  the  indulgence  with  which 
these  prodigals  are  treated  ;  but  rather  welcome  them  back  into 
the  family,  and  even  encourage  every  thing  that  looks  like  a  dis- 
position to  return  toit.  And  let  those  who  have  been  thus  receiv* 
ed,  wander  no  more  :  but  rather  let  them  emulate  the  strictest  pie- 
ty of  those,  who  for  many  years  have  served  their  heavenly  Father, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  2b7 

without  having  in  any  notorious  instances  transgressed  his  com- 
mandments. 


SECTION  LI. 
Luke  xvi.  1 — 18. 

And  he  said  also  unto  his  disci  pies,  There  was  a  certain 
rich  man  which  had  a  steward  :   And  the  same  was  ac- 
cused unto  him  that  he  had  wasted  his  goods.     And  he 
called  him,  and  said  unto  him,  How  is  it  that  I  hear  this 
of  thee  ?  give  an  account  of  thy  stewardship  :   for  thou 
mayest  be  no  longer  steward.     Then  the  steward  said 
within  himself,  What  shall  I  do  ?  for  my  lord  taketh  away 
from  me  the  stewardship  :   1  cannot  dig  :  to   beg  I  am 
ashamed.      I  am  resolved  what  to  do,  that,  when  I  am 
put  out  of  the  stewardship,  they  may  receive  me  into 
their   houses.     So  he  called    every  one  of  his  lord's 
debtors  unto  hijn,  and  said  unto   the  first.  How  much 
owest  thou  unto  my  lord?     And  he  said,  An  hundred 
measures  of  oil.     And  he  said  unto  him.  Take  thy  bill, 
and  sit  down,  quickly,  and  write  fifty.     Then  said  he  to 
another.  And  how  much  owest  thou  ?     And  he  said,  An 
hundred  measures  of  wheat.     And  he  said  unto  him, 
Take  thy  bill,  and  write  fourscore.     And  the  lord  com- 
mended the  unjust  steward,  because  he  had  done  wisely, 
for  the  children  of  this   world  are  in  their  generation 
wiser  than  the  children  of  light.     And  I  say  unto  you. 
Make  to  yourselves  friends  of  the  mammon  of  unrigh- 
teousness ;  that,  when  ye  fail,  they  may  receive  you  into 
everlasting  habitations.     He    that   is   faithful  in   that 
which  is  least  is  faithful  also  in  much  :  and  he  that  is 
unjust  in  the  least  is  unjust  also  in  much.     If  therefore 
ye  have  not  been  faithful  in   the  unrighteous  mammon, 
who  will  commit  to  your  trust  the  true  riches  ?     And  if 
ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  that  which  is  another  man's, 
who  shall  give  you  that  which  is  your  own  ?     No  ser- 
vant can  serve  two  masters  :  for  either  he  will  hate  the 

23* 


258  HARMO?«Y    OF    THE 

one,  and  love  the  other ;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one, 
and  despise  the  other.  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mam- 
mon. 

And  the  Pharisees  also,  who  were  covetous,  heard 
all  these  things  :  and  they  derided  him.  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Ye  are  they  which  justify  yourselves  before 
men  ;  but  God  knoweth  your  hearts  :  for  that  which  is 
highly  esteemed  among  men  is  abomination  in  the  sight 
of  God.  The  law  and  the  prophets  were  until  John  ; 
since  that  time  the  kingdom  of  God  is  preached,  and 
every  man  presseth  into  it.  And  it  is  easier  for  heaven 
and  earth  to  pass,  than  one  tittle  of  the  law  lo  fail. 
Whosoever  putteth  away  his  wife,  and  marrieth  another, 
coramitteth  adultery  :  and  whosoever  marrieth  her  that 
is  put  away  from  her  husband  commit teth  adultery. 

May  the  wisdom  of  the  children  of  this  world  in  their  compara- 
tively striking  concerns  excite  a  holy  emulation  in  the  children  of 
light !  Is  it  not  much  better  worth  our  while  to  employ  all  the 
attention  of  our  thoughts  in  observing  opportunities  for  the  good 
of  our  souls,  and  to  exert  all  the  force  or  our  resolutions  in  im- 
proving them,  than  to  labor  merely  for  the  meat  which  perishes^ 
for  that  deceitful  niamtyion,  that  treacherous/nenc?,  which  will  at 
best  only  amuse  us  for  a  few  years,  and  will  for  ever  forsake  us  in 
our  greatest  extremity. 

Let  us  take  occasion,  from  this  parable^  to  think  how  soon  we 
must  part  with  all  our  present  possessions ;  how  soon  we  must 
give  an  account  of  our  respective  stewardships  as  those  who  must 
be  no  longer  stewards.  Let  us  therefore  manage  them  in  such  a 
manner  as  may  most  effectually  promote  the  great  purposes"'of 
our  everlasting  happiness.  To  this  end,  let  us  remember  how  ab- 
solutely necessary  it  is  that  we  abound  in  works  of  charity  and 
benevolence,  and  that  we  endeavour  to  abstract  our  hearts  from  an 
over-eager  attachment  to  these  lying  vanities  ;  for  surely  the  tri- 
fles of  earth  are  no  better.  Let  us  not  imagine  that  our  particular 
address  can  find  out  the  secret  of  serving  God  and  mammon, 
since  Christ  represents  it  as  an  impossibility  and  contradiction. 

May  we  be  iound  faithful  in  what  God  has  corn  iiitted  to  us, 
whether  it  be  little  or  much;  but  govern  ourselves,  not  by  the 
maxims  of  this  vain  world,  and  by  those  of  the  gospel !  And  if  the 
same  temper  that  led  the  covetous  Pharisees  to  deride  our  Lord, 
engage  the  children  of  this  world  to  pour  contempt  upon  us  as 
visionaries  and  enthusiasts,  we  have  much  greater  reason  to  be 
grieved  for  them  than  for  ourselves.  Their  censures  can  be  matter 
of  but  little  account  to  us,  when  we  consider  tliat  the   things 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  269 

which  are  highly  esteemed  by  men  are  often  an  abomination  in 
the  sight  of  God.  His  law  is  sacred,  and  the  constitutions  of  his 
kingdom  are  unalterable  ;  may  the  temper  of  our  minds  be  so  al- 
tered and  disposed  as  may  suit  it !  For  another  day,  and  another 
world,  will  shew  that  real  Christianity  is  the  only  wisdom  ;  and 
<hat  all  the  refinements  of  human  policy  without  it  are  but  spe- 
cious madness  and  laborious  ruin ! 


SECTION  LII. 

Luke  xvi.  19 — 34. 

There  was  a  certain  rich  man,  which    was  clothed  in 
purple  and  fine  linen,  and  fared  sumptuously  every  day  : 
And  there  was  a  certain  beggar  named  Lazarus,  which 
was  laid  at  his  gate,  full  of  sores,  desiring  to  be  fed  with 
the  crumbs  which  fell  from  the  rich  man's  table  :  more- 
over the  dogs  came  and  licked  his  sores.     And  it  came 
to  pass,  that  the  beggar  died,  and  was  carried  by  the 
angels  into  Abraham's  bosom  :  the  rich  man  also  died, 
and  was  buried  :  And  in  hell  he  lift  up  his  eyes,  being 
in  torments,  and  seeth  Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus 
in  his  bosom.     And  he   cried  and  said,  Father  Abra- 
ham, have  mercy  on  me,  and  send  Lazarus,  that  he  may 
dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water,  and  cool  my  tongue  ; 
for  I  am  tormented  in  this  flame.     But  Abraham  said, 
Son,  remember  that  thou  in  thy  lifetime  receivedst  thy 
good  things,  and  likewise  Lazarus  evil  things  :  but  now 
he  is  comforted,  and  thou  art  tormented.     And  besides 
all  this,  between  us  and  you  there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed  : 
so  that  they  which  would  pass  from  hence  to  you  cannot ; 
neither  can  they    pass   to  us,   that  would   come  from 
thence.     Then  he  said,  I  pray  thee  therefore,  father, 
that  thou  wouldest  send  him  to  my  father's  house  :  for 
I  have  five  brethren  ;  that  he  may  testify  unto  them,  lest 
they  also  come  into  this  place  of  torment.     Abraham 
saith  unto  him,  They  have  Moses  and  the  prophets  ;  let 
them  hear  them.     And  he  said,  Nay,  father  Abraham  : 


260  HABMONY    OF   THE 

but  if  one  went  unto  them  from  the  dead,  they  will  re- 
pent. And  he  said  unto  him,  If  they  hear  not  Moses 
and  the  prophets,  neither  will  they  be  persuaded,  though 
one  rose  from  the  dead. 

Most  evidently  may  we  learn  from  this  parable,  that  it  is  im- 
possible to  know  either  love  or  hatred  by  any  thing  that  is  before 
us  under  the  sun.  (Eccles.  ix.  1.)  Who  that  had  seen  the  pomp 
and  plenty  of  this  rich  sinner,  and  compared  it  with  the  indigence 
and  misery  of  Lazarus,  would  have  imagined  that  the  latter  had 
been  the  child,  and  the  former  the  enemy  of  God  ?  But  let  us 
judge  nothing  before  the  time.  (1  Cor.  iv.  5.)  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  shews  us  the  period  of  all  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked, 
and  of  all  the  calamities  with  which  good  men  may  be  exercised. 
And  what  availed  the  luxuries  of  lifo,  or  the  magnificence  of  6m- 
rial,  to  a  wretch  tormented  in  flames  7  Surely  the  fierceness  of 
those ^awes  would  be  proportionable  to  the  luxury  in  which  he 
had  formerly  lived,  and  the  sense  of  his  torment  be  heightened 
by  the  delicacy  he  had  once  indulged.  May  God  awaken  those 
unhappy  persons,  whatever  their  rank  in  the  present  life  may  be, 
who  pkce  their  happiness  and  glory  in  being  clothed  in  purple 
and  fine  linen,  and  faring  sumptuously  every  day  1  May  they 
lift  up  their  enchanted  deluded  eyes,  and  see  that  pointed  sword 
of  the  Divine  vengeance  which  is  suspended  over  them  by  so 
weak  a  thread  ;  and  may  they  take  this  warning  from  one  greater 
than  Moses  and  the  prophets,  from  one  that  came  from  the  dead 
to  enforce  it,  that  they  pass  not  into  that  place  of  torment/ 

Letpoor  qf^icted  saints  take  comfoi t  in  what  has  now  been  read, 
tliough  they  may  be  despised  and  slighted  by  men.  The  time  will 
shortly  come,  when  those  angels  who  now  descend  in  an  invisible 
form  to  minister  to  them,  will  appear  as  their  guard  to  convoy 
them  to  the  regions  of  glory.  Abrahani's  bosom  will  be  opened 
to  them,  and  the  dainties  of  heaven  be  set  before  multitudes,  who, 
perhaps,  while  on  this  side  the  grave,  hardly  knew  how  to  procure 
even  the  necessaries  of  life. 

May  we  never  view  those  seats  of  glory,  as  this  wretched  sen- 
sualist did,  at  an  unapproachable  distance  !  Let  us  think  serious- 
ly of  his  deplorable  circumstances,  when  he  asked  a  drop  of  wa- 
ter from  the  tip  of  Lazarus'  finger,  and  yet  was  denied.  Dread- 
ful representation  !  yet  made  by  Christ  himself,  who  surely  knew 
how  to  describe  the  case  with  the  utmost  propriety,  Behold,  0 
our  souls,  this  son  of  Abraham,  in  that  flaming  prison,  in  all  the 
restless  agonies  of  torment  and  despair;  and  we  may  judge  what 
dependence  to  place  on  a  descent  from  pious  ancestors,  or  a  pan- 
ticipation  of  external  privileges. 

We  inquire  not  curiously  into  the  mo/wes  which  engaged  him 
to  request  that  so  extraordinary  a  warning  might  be  sent  to  his 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  261 

brethren;  whether  it  might  proceed  from  a  remainder  of  natu- 
ral affection,  from  a  fear  of  meeting  them  in  the  same  misery, 
or  from  a  mixture  of  both.  It  is  enough  to  observe  how  and 
upon  what  principles  it  was  denied,  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and 
the  prophets^  neither  will  they  he  persuaded  though  one  rose  from, 
the  dead.  Let  none  vainly  excuse  themselves  from  believing 
the  evidence  of  the  revelation  God  has  given,  on  a  pretence 
that  if  they  saw  signs  and  wonders  they  would  believe.  The 
heart  of  man  may  be  hardened  against  the  most  sensible  and 
immediate  miracle  ;  but  if  that  evidence  were  irresistible,  it 
would  ill  become  us  to  dictate  to  God  when  and  to  whom  it 
should  be  given.  Let  us  examine  and  acquiesce  in  such  as  he 
has  seen  fit  to  afford  ;  and  pass  through  our  various  scenes  of 
life  as  those  that  have  eternity  in  view,  and  are  persuaded  we 
must  each  of  us,  in  a  few  years  at  farthest,  be  with  Lazarus  in 
Abraharn's  bosom,  or  with  the  rich  man  in  that  tormenting 
fiame. 


SECTION  LIII. 

Luke  xvii.  1 — 10. 

Then  said  he  unto  the  disciples.  It  is  impossible  but  that 
offences  will  come :  but  woe  unto  hinij  through  whom 
they  come !  It  were  better  for  him  that  a  millstone 
were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  he  cast  into  the  sea, 
than  that  he  should  offend  one  of  these  little  ones.  Take 
heed  to  yourselves  :  If  thy  brother  trespass  against  thee, 
rebuke  him  ;  and  if  he  repent^  forgive  him.  And  if  he 
trespass  against  thee  seven  times  in  a  day,  and  seven 
times  in  a  day  turn  again  to  thee,  saying,  I  repent  j 
thou  shall  forgive  him. 

And  the  apostles  said  unto  the  Lord,  Increase  our 
faith.  And  the  Lord  said,  If  ye  had  faith,  as  a  grain  of 
mustard-seed,  ye  might  say  unto  this  sycamine-tree,  Be 
thou  plucked  up  by  the  root  and  be  thou  planted  in  the 
sea  ;  and  it  should  obey  you. 

But  which  of  you,  having  a  servant  plowing  or  feed- 
ing cattle,  will  say  unto  him  by  and  by,  when  he  is  come 
from  the  field,  Go  and  sit  down  to  meat  ?  And  will  not 


262  HARMONY    OF    THE 

rather  say  unto  him,  Make  ready  wherewith  I  may  sup, 
and  gird  thyself,  and  serve  me,  till  I  have  eaten  and 
drunken,  and  afterward  thou  shalt  eat  and  drink  ?  Doth 
he  thank  that  servant  because  he  did  the  things  that 
were  commanded  him  ?  I  trow  not.  So  likewise  ye, 
when  ye  shall  have  done  all  those  things  which  are 
commanded  you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable  servants  :  we 
have  done  that  which  was  our  duty  to  do. 

Let  us  renew  our  guard  against  every  thing  in  our  conduct 
which  might  give  offence  to  the  meanest  and  weakest;  and 
against  every  thing,  which  might  by  a  bad  example  mislead 
others,  or  furnish  the  enemies  of  religion  with  matter  of  re- 
proach and  accusation  against  it.  Let  us  imbibe  the  forgiving 
Spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  bearing  in  mind  the  numberless  in- 
stances in  which  God  has  forgiven  us,  though  we  have  sinned 
against  him  not  only  seven  iimes^  but  seventy  times  seven;  let  us 
arm  ourselves  in  some  degree  with  the  same  mind,  and  endeavour 
to  forbear^  and  forgive  one  another^  even  as  God  for  Christ''s 
sake  has  freely  forgiven  us.     (Eph.  iv.  32,  and  Col.  iii.  13.) 

In  a  sense  of  the  weakness  of  our  faith  let  us  pray  to  Christ 
to  inci^ease  it ;  and  then  those  duties  will  be  discharged  with  ease 
and  delight,  which  appeared  most  difficult  in  a  distant  prospect. 
Yet  when  faith  and  patience  have  had  their  most  perfect  work^ 
when  our  Master's  will  has  been  borne  with  the  most  entire 
submission  and  done  with  the  most  zealous  despatch,  let  us  not 
pretend  to  place  any  merit  in  our  own  actions  or  sufferings ;  but 
let  us  think  of  ourselves  as  the  servants  of  God,  yea,  as  unpro- 
fitable servants,  whose  goodness  extendeth  not  to  our  Great 
Master  :  and  to  the  riches  of  his  grace  let  us  ascribe  it,  that  our 
feeble  powers  are  strengthened  to  the  performance  of  our  duty ; 
and  that  our  worthless  services  are  accepted,  and  the  number- 
less deficiencies  of  them  mercifully  excused. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  263 

SFXTION  LIV. 

Luke  xvii.  U  —  ]9. 

And  it  came  to  pass  as  he  went  to  Jerusalem,  that  he 
passed  through  the  midst  of  Samaria  and  Gahlee.  And 
as  he  entered  into  a  certain  village,  there  met  him  ten 
men  that  were  lepers,  which  stood  afar  off:  and  they 
lifted  up  their  voices,  and  said,  Jesus,  Master,  have 
mercy  on  us.  And  when  he  saw  them,  he  said  unto 
them.  Go  shew  yourselves  unto  the  priests.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  that,  as  they  went,  they  were  cleansed. 
And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  healed, 
turned  back,  and  with  a  loud  voice  glorified  God,  and 
fell  down  on  his  face  at  his  feet,  giving  him  thanks  : 
and  he  was  a  Samaritan.  And  Jesus  answering  said, 
Were  there  not  ten  cleansed  ?  but  where  are  the  nine  ? 
There  are  not  found  that  returned  to  give  glory  to  God, 
save  this  stranger.  And  he  said  nnto  him,  Arise,  go 
thy  way :  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole. 

From  the  story  of  the  ten  lepers  let  us  learn  importunately  to 
seek  the  influences  of  Christ,  to  purge  us  from  that  far  more  odi- 
ous and  fatal  disease  which  sin  has  spread  over  our  whole  nature ; 
and,  after  the  example  of  the  Samaritan,  let  us  own  the  mercy 
we  have  received.  Have  we  not  reason  to  fear  that,  of  the  mul- 
titudes who  are  indebted  to  the  Divine  goodness,  there  is  not  one 
in  ten  who  has  a  becoming  sense  of  it  ?  Let  us  labour  to  im- 
press our  hearts  deeply  with  such  a  sense.  Let  us  remember  what 
it  is  that  God  expects  of  us  ;  and  let  us  farther  consider  that,  as 
the  exercise  o{  gratitude  towards  such  a  Benefactor  is  most  rea- 
sonable, so  also  in  proportion  it  is  most  delightful  to  the  soul ; 
it  is  indeed  (as  one  well  expresses  it)  like  the  incense  oixYvQ  Jew- 
ish priest,  which,  while  it  did  an  honour  to  God,  did  likewise  re- 
gale with  its  own  fragrancy  the  person  by  whom  it  was  offered. 


264  HARMONY    OP    THE 

SECTION  LV. 

Matt.  xix.  1,  2.     Maekx.  1. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Jesus  had  finished  these 
sayings,  he  arose  from  thence,  and  departed  from 
Gahlee,  and  came  into  the  coasts  of  Judea  beyond  Jor- 
dan :  And  great  multitudes  followed  him  ;  and  the  peo- 
ple resorted  unto  him  again  ;  and,  as  he  was  wont,  he 
taught  them  again,  and  he  healed  them  there. 

Luke  xvii.  20 — 37. 

And  when  he  was  demanded  of  the  Pharisees,  when 
the  kingdom  of  God  should  come,  he  answered  them 
and  said,  The  kingdom  of  God  cometh  not  with  obser- 
vation :  Neither  shall  they  say,  Lo  here  !  or,  lo  there  ! 
for,  behold,  the  kingdom  of  God  is  within  you. 

And  he  said  unto  the  disciples,  The  days  will  come, 
when  ye  shall  desire  to  see  one  of  the  days  of  the  Son  of 
man,  and  ye  shall  not  see  it.  And  they  shall  say  to 
you,  See  here ;  or,  see  there  :  go  not  after  them,  nor 
follow  them.  For  as  the  lightning,  that  lighteneth  out  of 
the  one  part  under  heaven,  shineth  unto  the  other  part 
under  heaven  ;  so  shall  also  the  Son  of  man  be  in  his 
day.  But  first  must  he  suffer  many  things,  and  be 
rejected  of  this  generation.  And  as  it  was  in  the  days 
of  Noe,  so  it  shall  be  also  in  the  days  of  the  Son  of  man. 
They  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  married  wives,  they 
were  given  in  marriage,  until  the  day  that  Noe  entered 
into  the  ark,  and  the  flood  came,  and  destroyed  them 
all.  Likewise  also  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Lot ;  they 
did  eat,  they  drank,  they  bought,  they  sold,  they  plant- 
ed, they  builded,  but  the  same  day  that  Lot  went  out 
of  Sodom  it  rained  fire  and  brimstone  from  heaven,  and 
destroyed  them  all.  Even  thus  shall  it  be  in  the  day 
when  the  Son  of  man  is  revealed.     In  that  day,  he 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  2G5 

which  shall  be  upon  the  housetop,  and  his  stuff  in  the 
house,  let  him  not  conne  down  to  take  it  away  :  and  be 
that  is  in  the  field,  let  him  likewise  not  return  back. 
Remember  Lot's  wife.  Whosoever  shall  seek  to  save 
his  Jite  shall  lose  it :  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life 
shall  preserve  it.  I  tell  you,  in  that  night  there  shall  be 
two  inen  in  one  bed  ;  the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the 
other  shall  be  left.  Two  women  shall  be  grinding 
together;  the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 
Two  men  shall  be  in  the  field  ;  the  one  shall  be  taken", 
and  the  other  left.  And  they  answered  and  said  unto 
him.  Where,  Lord  1  And  he  said  unto  them,  Where- 
soever the  body  /=?,  thither  will  the  eagles  be  gathered 
tonether. 


May  our  minds  be  formed  to  a  true  taste  and  relish  for  the 
kingdom  of  God !  and  may  we  learn  wherein  it  consists;  not, 
like  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  in  external  pomp  and  splen- 
dour, but  in  righteousness,  peace,  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
that  inward  subjection  of  soul  to  the  Divine  government  which 
is  the  essence  of  religion,  and  the  grand  security  and  felicity  of 
our  natures  I  Many  are,  like  (he  Pharisees,  talking  of  it,  and 
expecting  it,  while  it  is  among  them,  and  they  know  it  not;  and, 
perhaps,  despise  the  humble  Christians  in  whom  it  resides,  and 
most  eminenlly  triumphs.  May  they  who  think  most  ligbtly 
of  it,  never  have  cause  to  ivish  at  last  for  the  return  of  those 
days  of  the  Son  of  man,  which  are  now  their  burden,  rather 
than  their  pleasure,  while  they  hear  vital  and  inward  religion 
in  vain  recommended  and  enforced  ! 

What  our  Lord  says  of /m  coming  to  the  destruction  of  Jeru- 
salem, may  be  applied,  as  it  is  elsewhere,  to  his  appearance  at 
tne final  judgment,  of  which  the  former  was  a  figure.  Thus 
shall  the  men  oi  that  generation  be  immersed  in  business  and 
pleasure  ;  and  that  tremendous  day  siiall  come  upon  them,  even 
as  a  thief  in  the  night ;  so  that  they  shall  find  themselves  over- 
whelmed with  irrecoverable  ruin,  while  they  cry,  Peace  and 
safety.  (1  Thess.  v.  2,  3.)  And  thus  doth  the  awful  hour  of 
death,  which  consigns  men  over  to  judgment,  surprise  the  gene- 
rality of  mankind,  while  they  are  thoughtless  of  it,  and  unpre- 
pared for  its  approach,  amidst  all  the  solemn  warnings  of  it 
which  they  daily  receive.  May  we  be  always  in  a  prepared 
posture,  and  daily  live  as  on  the  verge  of  eternity ! 

24 


^6S  HAHMONV    OF    THE 

And  if  once  we  are  engaj2;ed  in  a  course  of  serious  prepara- 
tion, let  us  remember  Lot's  toi/e,  and  take  heed  that  we  turn  not 
back  again.  WeJIee  as  for  our  lives  ;  let  us  not  look  behind  us. 
Whatever  is  to  be  Ze/V,  whatever  is  to  be  lost,  it  is  enough  if 
our  life  be  given  us  as  for  a  prey. 

If  we  have  any  just  hope  that  it  will  be  so  given  us,  we  have 
a  great  deal  of  reason  to  own  and  adore  the  riches  of  Divine 
grace  to  us,  of  that  distinguishing  grace  which  has  taken  us 
when  others  are  left ;  some  perhaps,  employed  in  the  same  busi- 
ness, and  dwelling  in  the  same  place ;  and,  may  not  I  add,  some 
lying  in  the  same  bed  too  ! 

In  a  word,  let  all  seriously  bethink  themselves,  and  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come.  God  spared  not  Judea,  that  favourite  coun- 
try, when  they  rejected  his  gospel,  and  his  Son  :  let  us  fear,  lest 
he  also  spare  not  us.  (Rom.  xi.  20,  21.)  In  this  respect  also, 
wheresoever  the  carcass  is,  there  will  the  eagles  be  gathered  to- 
gether. The  same  causes  will  produce  the  same  eflects  ;  and 
when  we,  in  particular,  of  these  happy,  but  sinful  nations, 
consider  our  numerous  and  aggravated  provocations,  we  siiall 
see  much  greater  reason  to  wonder  that  the  judgments  of  God 
have  been  so  long  delayed,  than  that  they  should  at  last  fall 
upon  us  with  an  insupportable  weight. 

SECTION  LVI. 

Luke  xvm.    1 — 14. 

AwD  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to  this  end,  that 
men  ought  always  to  pray,  and  not  to  faint  ;  saying, 
There  was  in  a  city  a  judge,  which  feared  not  God, 
neither  regarded  man  :  And  there  was  a  widow  in  that 
city  ;  and  she  came  unto  him,  saying,  Avenge  me  of 
my  adversary.  And  he  would  not  for  a  while  :  but 
afterward  he  said  within  himself,  Though  1  fear  not 
God,  nor  regard  man  ;  yet  because  this  widow  troubleth 
me,  I  will  avenge  her,  lest  by  her  continual  coming  she 
weary  me.  And  the  Lord  saith.  Hear  what  the  unjust 
judge  saith.  And  shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  elect, 
which  cry  day  and  night  unto  him,  though  he  bear  long 
with  them  ?  I  tell  you  that  he  will  avenge  them  spee- 
dily. Nevertheless  when  the  Son  of  man  cometh,  shall 
he  find  faith  on  the  earth  ? 

And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  certain  which  trusted 


j^  FOLK  GOSPELS.  267 

in  themselves  that  they  were  righteous,  and  despised 
others  :  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to  pray  ; 
the  one  a  Pharisee,  and  the  other  a  publican.  The 
Pharisee  stood  and  prayed  thus  with  himself,  God,  I 
thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are,  extortioners, 
unjust,  adulterers,  or  even  as  this  publican.  I  fast 
twice  in  the  week,  I  give  tithes  of  all  that  I  possess.  And 
the  publican,  standing  afar  off,  would  not  lift  up  so 
much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven,  but  smote  upon  his  breast, 
saying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.  1  tell  you,  this 
man  went  down  to  his  house  justified  rather  than  the 
other  :  for  every  one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted. 


How  hateful  is  the  character  of  this  unjust  judge^  who  neither 
feared  God,  nor  revennced  man,  but  centred  all  his  regards  in 
himself!  How  hateful,  and  how  contemptible,  in  any  circum- 
stance of  life  ;  especially  in  a  magistrate,  the  guardian  of  the 
public  interest,  in  comparison  of  which  he  ought  to  forget  his 
own  I  Yet  even  he  was  prevailed  upon  by  importunity/  ;  and 
our  Lord  mentions  it,  to  encourage  the/errowr  of  our  addresses 
to  the  throne  of  grace.  What  then,  is  the  blessed  God,  like 
this  unjust  judge^  to  be  wearied  out  with  a  peal  of  words,  and 
thereby  weakly  induced,  to  do  what  would  otherwise  hai'^e 
been  contrary  to  his  designs!  Far  from  us  be  so  absurd,  and 
so  impious  a  thought !  Our  condescending  Lord  only  intended 
to  intimate,  that  if  the  repeated  im^or/M^a/e  crtes  of  the  afflicted 
may  at  length  prevail,  eveu  on  an  inhuman  heart,  they  will  be 
much  more  regarded  by  a  righteous  and  merciful  God^  who  is 
always  ready  to  bestow  his  favours,  when  he  sees  we  are  pre- 
pared to  receive  them.  We  may  be  sure,  that  God  will  vindi- 
cate his  elect :  let  this  encourage  them,  though  the  rod  of  the 
wicked  may  for  a  while  rest  on  their  back :  and  let  it  intimidate 
the  proud  oppressors  of  the  earth,  who  in  the  midst  of  all  their 
pomp  and  power,  are  so  wretched,  as  to  have  the  prayers  of 
God's  people  against  (hem. 

How  instructive  is  this  parable  of  the  publican  and  Pharisee  ? 
and  how  well  connected  with  the  former,  to  teach  us  that  hu*' 
mility,  without  which  repeated  prayers  will  be  repeated  insults 
and  aflfronts  to  heaven  ?  Let  us  not  trust  in  ourselves,  that  we 
are  righteous,  and  despise  others ;  but  rather  be  severe  to  our 
own  faults,  and  candid  to  theirs. 

Behold  this  arrogant  Pharisee,  standing  apart  from  the  pub- 


268  HARMONY    or    THE 

lican,  but  as  near  as  he  could  to  the  seat  of  the  Divine  Majesty  ! 
And  hear  him  boldly  celebrating  his  own  praises,  rather  than 
those  of  his  Maker  !  God^  I  thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as  other 
men.  We  see  a  man  may  acknowledge,  it  is  the  grace  of  God 
which  makes  the  difference  between  him  and  others ;  and  yet 
while  he  professes  that  humbling  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  may  be 
blown  up  with  pride:  yea,  he  may  wourish,  and  express  that 
pride,  by  the  words  in  which  he  declares  his  faith.  Mistaken 
creature  !  that  imagined  this  encomium  on  himself  was  a  prayer^ 
and  trusted  in  this  defective  morality^  and  these  ceremonies  of 
human  device,  while  an  utter  stranger  to  real  vital  religion. 
Happier,  a  thousand  times  happier,  the  poor  publican^  when 
abasing  himseif  in  the  dust ;  when  smitvig  on  his  breast ;  when 
owning  himself  a  sinner^  and  imploring  the  Divine  mercy  as  his 
only  hope  !  Lord,  we  equally  need  it :  may  we  with  equal  hu- 
mility seek  it!  May  we  habitually  maintain  those  views  of 
ourselves  which  may  promote  that  humility,  so  necessary  in  or- 
der to  the  acceptance  of  our  addresses,  and  therefore  to  the 
happiness  of  our  souls.  And  indeed,  if  in  our  approaches  (o 
God,  we  can  place  our  confidence  in  any  righteousness  of  our 
oicn,  whatever  we  may  imagine  of  our  own  knowledge  or  holi- 
ness, we  have  need  to  be  taught  again  the  first  principles  of  botly, 
and  are  strangers  to  the  essentials  of  religion. 


SECTION  LVIL 

Matt.  xix.  3 — 12.     Mark  x.  2—12. 

And  the  Pharisees  also  came  unto  him,  tempting  him, 
and  asked  him,  Is  it  lawful  for  a  man  to  put  away  his 
wife  for  every  cause  ?  And  he  answered  and  said  unto 
them,  Have  ye  not  read,  that  he  which  made  them  at  the 
beginning  of  the  creation  made  them  male  and  female  ? 
And  said,  For  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  his  father  and 
mother,  and  shall  cleave  to  his  wife  :  and  they  twain 
shall  be  one  flesh.  Wherefore  they  are  no  more  twain, 
but  one  flesh.  What  therefore  God  iiath  joined  together, 
let  not  man  put  asunder.  They  say  unto  him.  Why  did 
Moses  then  command  to  give  a  waiting  of  divorcement, 
and  to  put  her  away  ?  He  saith  unto  them,  Moses  be- 
cause of  the  hardness  of  your  hearts  suffered  you  to  put 
away  your  wives  ;  but  from  the  beginning  it  was  not  so. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  269 

And  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall  put  away  his  wife, 
except  it  be  for  fornication,  and  shall  marry  another, 
commitleth  adultery  :  and  whoso  marrieth  her  which  is 
put  away  doth  commit  adultery.  And  in  the  house  his 
disciples  asked  him  again  of  the  same  matter.  And  he 
saith  unto  lhem»  Whosoever  shall  put  away  his  wife, 
and  marry  another,  committeth  adultery  against  her. 
And  if  a  woman  shall  put  away  her  husband,  and  be 
married  to  another,  she  committeth  adultery.  His  dis- 
ciples say  unlo  him,  If  the  case  of  the  man  be  so  with 
his  wife,  it  is  not  good  to  marry.  But  he  said  unto  them, 
All  men  cannot  receive  this  saying,  save  they  to  whom  it 
is  given.  For  there  are  some  eunuchs  which  were  so 
born  from  their  mother's  womb  :  and  there  are  some 
eunuchs,  which  were  made  eunuchs  of  men  :  and  there 
be  eunuchs,  which  have  made  themselves  eunuchs  for 
the  kingdom  of  heaven's  sake.  He  that  is  able  to  re- 
ceive it,  let  him  receive  it> 


From  what  we  have  been  reading  we  may  justly  take  occa- 
sion to  adore  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  Divine  Providence  in 
creating  the  human  species  male  and  female,  and  providing  for 
his  new  formed  creature  Adam  so  suitable  and  so  amiable  a  com- 
panion, to  enliven  every  other  object  of  delight,  and  to  crown 
the  pleasures  of  Paradise  itself. 

Let  us  also  acknowledge  the  apparent  interposition  of  a  wise 
and  kind  providence  in  maintaining  such  a  proportion  between 
the  sexes,  even  to  this  day,  which  so  apparently  tends  to  the  be- 
nefit of  both,  as  well  as  to  the  support  of  the  race  in  future  ages  ; 
as  also  in  perpetuating  in  their  hearts  through  succeeding  gene- 
rations that  mutual  tenderness  for  each  other  which  the  purest 
bosoms  may  feel  and  vow,  and  which  is  the  foundation  of  such 
an  union  of  souls  as  no  other  friendship  will  admit. 

Let  those  who  are  married,  considering  the  indissoluble  bond 
by  which  God  has  joined  them  together,  make  it  their  constant 
care  to  promote  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  each  other;  and 
let  them  most  cautiously  guard  against  every  degree  of  conten- 
tion, or  even  of  distaste,  which  tnight  at  length  ocrasion  an 
alienation  in  their  affections,  and  render  so  close  a  bond  propor- 
tionably  grievous. 

Let  none  rashly  run  into  these  important  engagements,  nor 
determine  their  choice  by  light  considerations,  of  a  low  and 

24* 


270  HAEMOKY  OF  THE 

transitory  nature.  And  if  any,  on  the  whole,  prefer  the  free- 
dom of  a  single  life  to  a  state  which,  with  its  peculiar  comforts, 
must  necessarily  have  its  peculiar  cares  and  trials  too,  let  them 
diligently  improve  that  disengagement,  as  an  obligation  to  seek 
the  kingdom  of  God  with  greater  ardour,  and  to  pursue  its  in- 
terests with  more  active  zeal  and  application. 

To  conclude  :  since  it  appears  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in 
some  others,  that  the  gospel  revokes  some  indulgences  which 
the  law  of  Moses  gave,  let  us  endeavour  to  form  our  hearts  by 
Divine  grace  to  a  wisdom,  seriousness  and  spiritualily,  which 
may  suit  this  nobler  dispensation;  and  while  we  are  reading 
the  precept  of  the  Jewish  legislator,  let  us  remember  we  have 
a  sublimer  Master^  and  are  to  do  and  forbear  more  than  others. 
(Matt.  V.  47.) 


SECTION  LVIII. 

Matt.  XIX.  13 — 15.     Mark  x.  13 — 16.     Luke  xviii. 

15—17. 

Then  were  there  brought  unto  him  little  children,  that 
he  should  put  his  hands  on  them,  and  pray  ;  but  wben 
his  disciples  saw  it,  they  rebuked  those  that  brought 
them.  But  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  much  displeased, 
and  called  them  unto  him,  and  said  unto  them,  Suffer  the 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not  : 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.  Verily  1  say  unto  you, 
Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a 
little  child,  he  shall  in  no  wise  enter  therein.  And  he 
took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands  upon  them,  and 
blessed  them  ;  and  departed  thence. 

Let  us  make  a  pause  here,  that  we  may  more  atlecrtively  re- 
view this  delightful  and  instructive  sight;  that  we  may  see 
this  compassionate  Shepherd  of  Israel,  thus  gathering  the  lambs 
in  his  arms,  and  carrying  them  in  his  bosom,  with  all  the  tokens 
of  tender  regard,  (Isa.  xl.  IJ,)  rebuking  his  disciples  who  for- 
bade their  coming  and  lajjing  his  gracious  hands  upon  them,  to 
bless  them.  How  condescending  and  engaging  a  behaviour  ! 
how  encouraging  and  amiable  an  image  I 

Let  his  ministers  view  it,  to  teach  them  a  becoming  regard  to 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  271 

the  lambs  of  ihehjlock^  who  should  early  be  taken  notice  of  and 
instructed ;  and  lor  and  with  whom  they  should  frequently 
pray ;  remembering  how  often  Divine  grace  takes  possession  of 
the  heart  in  the  years  of  infancy,  and  saiictijies  the  children  of 
God  almost  frum  the  u'omb.  Let  every  first  impression  made 
upon  their  tender  minds  be  cherished  ;  and  let  not  those  whom 
Christ  himself  is  ready  to  receive  be  disregarded  by  his  servants, 
who  upon  all  occasions  should  be  gentle  unto  all,  and  apt  to 
teach.     (2  Tim.  ii.  24.) 

Let pareyits  view  this  sight  with  pleasure  and  thankfulness:  let 
it  encourage  them  to  bring  their  children  to  Christ  by  faith,  and 
to  commit  them  to  him  in  baptism,  and  by  prayer.  And  if  he  who 
has  the  keys  of  death  and  the  unseen  world,  (Rev.  i.  18,)  see  fit 
to  renaove  those  dear  creatures  from  us  in  their  early  days,  let  the 
remembrance  of  this  story  comfort  us,  and  teach  us  to  hope  that 
he  who  so  graciously  received  these  children  has  not  forgotten 
ours,  but  that  they  are  sweetly  fallen  asleep  in  him,  and  will  be 
the  everlasting  objects  of  his  care  and  love  ;  /or  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

Let  children  especially  observe  this.  The  great  and  glorious 
Redeemer  i\id  not  despise  these  little  ones ;  nay,  he  was  nufch  dis- 
pleased with  those  who  would  have  prevented  their  being  brought 
to  him.  As  kindly  would  he,  no  doubt,  have  received  you,  ye 
dear  children,  who  read  or  hear  this ;  as  kindly  will  he  still  receive 
you,  if  you  go  to  him  in  the  sinceri'y  of  your  hearts,  and  ask  his 
blessing  in  humble  and  earnest  prayer.  Though  you  see  not 
Christ,  he  sees  and  hears  you;  he  is  now  present  with  you,  to 
receive  you,  to  bless  you,  and  to  save  you.  Happy  the  weakest 
of  you  when  lodged  in  the  arms  of  Christ !  nothing  can  pluck 
you  from  thence,  or  ever  hurt  you  there. 

In  a  word,  let  us  all  commit  ourselves  to  him  ;  and  let  us  be 
disposed  to  become  as  little  children,  il  we  desire  to  enter  into 
his  kingdom.  Let  us  not  govern  ourselves  by  the  vain  maxims 
of  a  corrupt  and  degenerate  age.  Let  not  pride,  ambition,  lust, 
or  avarice,  possess,  torment,  and  enslave  our  minds  ;  but,  with 
the  amiable  simjjlicity  of  children,  let  us  put  ourselves  into  the 
wise  and  kind  hand  oi  Jesus,  as  our  Guardian,  and  reter  ourselves 
to  his  pastoral  and  parental  care,  to  be  clothed  and  fed,  to  be 
guided  and  disposed  of,  as  he  shall  see  fit.  For  this  purpose,  0 
God,  may  we  be  born  again  by  the  Spiiit,  and  formed  anew  by 
thy  grace !  since  by  this  method  alone  we  can  be  made  meet  to 
be  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light,  (Col.  i.  12,) 
and  be  so  the  children  of  God,  as  to  be  at  length  the  children  of 
the  resurrection.. 


272  HARMONY  OF  THE 


SECTION  LIX. 

Matt.  xix.  16 — 30.     Mark,  x  17 — 31.     Lure  xviii. 

lb— 30. 

And  when  he  was  gone  forth  into  the  way,  behold,  a 
certain  ruler  came  running,  and  kneeled  to  hira,  and 
asked  him,  saying,  Good  Master,  what  good  thing  shall 
I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life  ?  and  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  Why  caliest  thou  me  good  ?  ihereis  none  good  but 
one,  that  is,  God.  But  if  thou  wilt  enter  into  life,  keep 
the  commandments.  He  saith  unto  him,  Which  ?  Jesus 
said,  Thou  knowest  the  commandments.  Thou  shalt  do 
no  murder,  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery.  Thou  shalt 
not  steal.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness,  Defraud  not, 
Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  and,  Thou  shalt  love 
thy  neighbour  as  thyself  The  young  man  answered  and 
said  unto  him.  Master,  All  these  things  have  I  kept  from 
my  youth  up  :  what  lack  I  yet  ?  Now  when  Jesus  heard 
these  things,  beholding  him  he  loved  him,  and  said  unto 
him,  Yet  lackest  thou  one  thing  ;  if  thou  w'ilt  be  perfect, 
go  thy  way,  sell  all  that  thou  hast,  and  distribute  unto 
the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven  :  and 
come,  take  up  the  cross  and  follow  me.  But  when  the 
young  man  heard  that  saying,  he  was  very  sorrowful, 
and  went  away  grieved  ;  for  he  was  very  rich,  and  had 
great  possessions.  And  when  Jesus  saw  that  he  was 
very  sorrowful,  he  looked  round  about,  and  saith  unto 
his  disciples.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  a  rich  man  shall 
hardly  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And  the  dis- 
ciples were  astonished  at  his  words.  But  Jesus  answer- 
eth  again,  and  saith  unto  them,  Children,  how  hard  is  it 
for  them  that  trust  in  riches  to  enter  into  the  kinordom 
of  God  !  And  again  I  say  unto  ybu,  It  is  easier  for  a 
camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich 
man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  When  his  dis- 
ciples heard  it,  they  were  exceedingly  amazed,  and  as- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  273 

tonished  out  of  measure,  saying  among  themselves,  Who 
then  can  be  saved  ?  but  Jesus  looking  upon  them  sailh, 
The  things  which  are  impossible  with  men  are  possible 
with  God.  With  men  this  is  impossible,  but  not  with 
God  :   for  with  God  all  things  are  possible. 

Then  answered  Peter,  and  said  unto  him.  Behold,  we 
have  forsaken  all,  and  followed  thee  ;  what  shall  we  have 
therefore  ?  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  ye  which  have  followed  me 
ill  the  regeneration,  W  hen  the  Son  of  man  shall  sit  in  the 
throne  of  his  glory,  ye  also  shall  sit  upon  twelve  thrones, 
judgmg  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  And  verily  I  say 
unto  you,  There  is  no  man  that  hath  forsaken  houses,  or 
brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or  chil- 
dren, or  lands,  for  my  sake  and  the  gospePs,  and  for  the 
kingdom  of  God's  sake,  who  shall  not  receive  an  hundred 
fold  now  in  this  present  time,  houses,  and  brethren,  and 
sisters,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and  lands,  with  perse- 
cutions ;  and  in  the  world  to  come  shall  inherit  everlast- 
ing life.  But  many  that  are  first  shall  be  last ;  and  the 
last  shall  be  first. 


Who  can  behold,  without  weeping  eyes,  and  a  bleeding  heart, 
this  lovely  youth  perishing  in  sin!  What  could  have  appeared 
more  promising,  than  thi.=  solicitous  concern  about  eternal  life,  in 
a  young  man,  rich  in  the  possessions,  and  high  in  the  honours  of 
the  present  world  !  To  see  him  running  with  such  eagerness  to 
the  feet  of  a  Medeemer,  kneeling  down,  with  such  humility  before 
him,  calling  upon  him  by  so  honourable  a  title,  and  professing  so 
sincere  a  desire  of  instruction,  could  not  but  lead  us  to  conclude. 
Surely  this  man  was  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  nor  do 
we  wonder,  that  Jesu^  beholding  him  loved  him.  Who  would  not 
have  looked  on  such  an  object  with  complacency !  Who  would  not 
have  expected,  that  this  pleasant  plant  should  have  brought  forth 
grapes  :  but  behold,  it  brought  forth  wild  grapes!  (Isa.  v.  2.) 
So  have  we  seen,  in  the  compass,  perhaps,  of  our  small  observa- 
tion and  experience,  many  a  fair  blossom  fall  withering  to  the 
ground.  So  have  the  hopes  of  ?ninisters  and  parents,  and  other 
religious  friends,  been  disappointed,  with  respect  to  many  young 
persons,  adorned  with  a  variety  of  amiab'e  qualifications,  yet  lack- 
ing one  thing,  ^nA  parting  with  Christ  when  put  to  the  trial,  af- 
ter all  the  regard  they  have  shewn  to  his  name,  and  all  the  pleas- 


274  HARMONY  OF  THE 

ing  expectations  they  have  given  of  a  willingness  to  serve  hira. 
O  Hiy  young  reader,  whoever  thou  art,  I  earnestly  pray,  that  thou 

mayest  not  be  added  to  that  number ! 

This  unhappy  youth  imagined  himself  in  the  certain  way  of  sal- 
vaiion,  because  he  was  free  from  the  stains  of  fraud  and  injustice, 
of  adultery  and  theft,  of  perjury  and  murder,  or  any  other  gross 
and  infamous  sin.  But  behold,  how  awful  a  method  Christ  takes, 
to  open  to  him  that  insincerity  of  heart,  which  he  seems  himself 
not  to  have  known.  Observe,  how  strange  a  command  he  gives 
him,  tfl  sell  all,  and  distribute  to  the  poor.  We  cannot  say,  that 
the  very  same  is  directly  required  of  us  ;  yet  by  this  order  that  was 
given  to  him,  we  are  obliged  to  part  with  our  all,  when  it  cannot 
be  preserved  with  a  good  conscience ;  and  by  the  general  rules  of 
Christianity,  and  its  fundamental  precepts,  we  are  in  duty  bound, 
conscientiously  to  use,  not  only  a  little  part  of  our  substance,  but 
even  the  whole  of  it  for  God,  as  stewards  who  are  another  day  to 
give  up  a  strict  account  for  all.  And  if  we  like  not  Christ  and 
glory  on  these  teims,  our  end  will  be  no  better  than  his.  Of  him 
we  read,  that  after  all  his  morality  and  all  his  zeal  he  went  away 
from  Christ,  (though  sorrowful,)  because  he  had  great  posses- 
sions.    Oh  dear-bought  wealth,  which  was  the  price  of  his  soul ! 

Let  us  look  upon  him,  and  receive  instruction  ;  let  us  learn  to 
be  upon  our  guard  against  this  vain  luorld,  that  specious  harlot, 
who  hath  cast  down  many  wounded :  yea,  many  strong  men 
have  been  slain  by  her.  (Prov.  vii.  26.)  How  universally  are 
riches  desired,  how  eagerly  are  they  pursued,  by  persons  in  all 
stations  and  of  all  professions  of  life !  Yet  what  do  they  generally 
prove  but  shining  mischief  and  gilded  ruin  !  If  we  believe  the 
incarnate  wisdom  of  God,  they  make  our  salvation  exceeding 
hazardous.  Yet  who  does  not  wish  for  them  ?  Who  does  not 
think  that  he  has  wisdom  and  grace  enough  to  stand  the  danger  ? 
But  God  knows  otherwise,  and  therefore  he  keeps,  or  makes,  so 
many  of  his  children  poor.  Let  them  be  contented  with  their 
safer  state  ;  and  let  those  who  are  rich  be  importunate  with  God 
for  those  influences  of  his  grace  which  can  effect  those  things 
that  are  impossible  with  men. 

On  the  whole,  let  us  not  think  much  of  any  thing  which  Christ 
demands,  knowing  that  whatever  we  may  lose,  or  whatever  we 
may  resign,  we  shall  gain  far  more  by  his  favour.  The  testimony 
of  a  good  conscience  before  him,  a  life  oi friendship  with  God,  the 
consolations  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  hopes  of  his  glory,  will  yields 
even  for  the  present,  an  hundredfold  more  satisfaction  than  the 
possession  of  the  greatest  riches,  or  the  enjoyment  of  the  most 
tender  and  beloved  relatives.  How  much  more  abundantly  then 
will  all  be  repaid  in  the  heavenly  state !  And,  if  we  cannot  trust 
the  promise  of  the  Lord  for  it,  we  are  no  more  real  Christians 
than  if  we  were  publicly  to  worship  mammon,  or  Plutus,  with 
all  the  idolatrous  rites  of  the  ancient  heathens. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  275 

J^ECTION  LX. 

Matthew  XX.  1 — 16, 

For  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  man  that  is  an 
householder,  which  went  out  early  in  the  morning,  to 
hire  labourers  into  hi?  vineyard.  And  when  he  had 
agreed  with  the  labourers  for  a  penny  a  day,  he  sent 
them  into  his  vineyard.  And  he  went  out  about  the 
third  hour,  and  saw  others  standing  idle  in  the  market- 
place, and  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  also  into  the  vineyard, 
and  whatsoever  is  right  I  will  give  you.  And  they  went 
their  way.  Again  he  went  out  about  the  sixth  and 
ninth  hour,  and  did  likewise.  And  about  the  eleventh 
hour  he  went  out,  and  found  others  standing  idle,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle  ? 
They  say  unto  him.  Because  no  man  hath  hired  us.  He 
saith  unto  them.  Go  ye  also  into  the  vineyard  ;  and  what- 
soever is  right  that  shall  ye  receive.  So  when  even  was 
come,  the  lord  of  the  vineyard  saith  unto  his  steward, 
Call  the  labourers,  and  give  them  their  hire,  beginning 
from  the  last  unto  the  first.  And  when  they  came  that 
were  hired  about  the  eleventh  hour,  they  received  every 
man  a  penny.  But  when  the  first  came,  they  supposed 
that  they  should  have  received  more  ;  and  they  likewise 
received  every  man  a  penny.  And  when  they  had  re- 
ceived it  they  murmured  against  the  good  man  of  the 
house,  saying,  these  last  have  wrought  but  one  hour,  and 
thou  hast  made  them  equal  unto  us,  which  have  borne 
the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day.  But  he  answered  one 
of  them,  and  said,  Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong  :  didst  thou 
not  agree  with  me  for  a  penny  ?  Take  that  thine  is,  and 
go  thy  way  :  I  will  give  unto  this  last,  even  as  unto  thee. 
Is  it  not  lawful  for  me  to  do  what  I  will  with  mine  own  ? 
Is  thine  eye  evil,  because  I  am  good  ?  So  the  last  shall 
be  first,  and  the  first  last  :  for  many  be  called, 
but  few  chosen. 


276  harMo?«y  of  the 

May  we  by  Divine  grace  appear  in  the  happy  number  of 
those  who  are  not  only  called^  but  chosen  too  !  If  we  ^rejirsl 
in  privileges  and  opportunities,  let  us  be  careful  (hat  our  im- 
provement be  proportionable  ;  otherwise  we  shall  be  last,  and 
see  ourselves  another  day  exceeded,  and  perhaps  condemned, 
by  those  who  stood  in  a  rank  much  below  us. 

We  are  called  to  a  course  of  holy  labour,  even  to  loork  in  our 
Lorcfs  vineyard,  or  in  every  station,  whether  public  or  private, 
to  do  our  utmost  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  and  the  happi- 
ness of  mankind.  Let  us  not,  wnth  so  many  calls  and  so  many 
advantages,  stand  oil  the  day  idle;  but  let  us  be  active  and  pa- 
tient, and  cheerfully  willing  to  bear  all  the  burden  and  heat  of 
the  day  in  ?o  good  a  cause;  knowing  that  ere  long  the  everdn^ 
will  come,  and  that  he  who  employs  us  saith.  Behold,  I  come 
quickly,  and  my  reward  is  with  me,  to  give  every  man  according 
as  his  work  shall  be.     (Rev.  xxii.  12.) 

Let  such  as  have  long  neglected  the  great  business  of  life  be 
encouraged  with  thisthoiight,  that  some  were  called  at  the  ele- 
venth hour;  but  let  none  presume  on  their  having  such  a  call, 
nor  strain  the  parable  so  far  as  to  imagine  that  an  equal  rtivard 
awaits  all,  without  any  regard  to  their  characters  or  improve- 
ments ;  which  is  most  contrary^to  the  reason  of  things,  to  the 
word  of  God,  and  to  the  great  intent  of  that  day  which  is  to 
render  to  every  man  according  to  his  deeds.     (Rom.  ii.  6.) 

The  Gentiles  are  indeed  now  called  t©  equal  privileges  with 
the.  Jews,  to  which  this  circumstance  of  the  parable  refers:  and 
we  all  see  how  odious  a  temper  it  was  in  that  favourite  nation 
to  be  offended  with  iho  gospel  on  that  account,  which  should  ra- 
ther have  recommended  it  to  their  more  joyful  acceptance.  Let 
us  be  careful  to  avoid  every  degree  of  e7ivy,  whoever  may  be 
put  on  a  level  with  us,  or  preferred  to  us.  Let  us  acknowledge 
the  sovereign  right  of  God  to  do  what  he  will  with  his  own.  and 
let  not  our  eye  be  evil  because  he  is  good.  To  prevent  this,  let 
us  labour  after  that  unfeigned  love  to  the  brethren  which  never 
will  allow  us  to  repine  at  their  advancement  to  the  greatest 
privileges,  but  will  engage  us  to  behold  the  favours  that  are 
shewn  them  with  delight  and  satisfaction,  and  to  rejoice  in  their 
honour  and  happiness  as  our  own.  So  shall  we  exchange  the 
basest  and  most  uneasy  passion  of  human  nature  for  that  which 
is  of  all  others  the  noblest  and  the  most  delightful. 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  277 


SECTION  LXI. 


Matthew  XX.  17 — 20.     Mark  x.  32 — 45. 
Luke  xviii.  31 — 34. 

And  they  were  in  the  way  going  up  to  Jerusalem  ;  and 
Jesus  went  before  thera  :  and  they  were  amazed  ;  and 
as  they  followed,  they  were  afraid.  And  he  took  unto 
him  the  twelve  disciples  apart  in  the  way,  and  began  to 
tell  them  what  things  should  happen  unto  him,  sayings 
Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem  ;  and  all  things  that  are 
written  by  the  prophets  concerning  the  Son  of  man  shall 
be  accomphshed.  For  he  shall  be  delivered  unto  the 
chief  priests,  and  unto  the  scribes  ;  and  they  shall  con- 
demn him  to  death,  and  shall  deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles, 
to  mock,  to  scourge,  and  to  crucify  Mm.  And  he  shall 
be  mocked,  and  spitefully  entreated,  and  spitted  on  :  and 
they  shall  scourge  him,  and  put  him  to  death  :  and  the 
third  day  he  shall  rise  again.  And  they  understood  none 
of  these  things:  and  this  saying  was  hid  from  them, 
neither  knew  they  the  things  which  were  spoken. 

Then  came  to  him  the  mother  of  Zebedee's  children 
with  her  sons  James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee, 
worshipping  Aim,  and  desiring  a  certain  thing  of  him  : 
saying.  Master,  we  would  that  thou  shouldest  do  for  us 
whatsoever  we  shall  desire.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
What  would  ye  that  I  should  do  for  you  ?  They  said 
unto  him,  Grant  unto  us  that  we  may  sit,  one  on  thy 
right  hand,  and  the  other  on  thy  left  hand,  in  thy  glory. 
And  the  mother  saith  unto  him.  Grant  that  these  my  two 
sons  may  sit,  the  one  on  thy  right  hand,  and  the  other  on 
the  left,  in  thy  kingdom.  But  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  them.  Ye  know  not  what  ye  ask.  Are  ye  able  to 
drink  of  the  cup  that  I  shall  drink  of,  and  to  be  baptized 
with  the  baptism  that  1  am  baptized  with  ?  And  they 
said  unto  him,  We  are  able.  And  Jesus  said  unto  thera. 
Ye  shall  indeed  drink  of  the  cup  that  I  drink  of;  and 

25 


278  HARMONY  OF  THE 

with  the  baptism  that  I  am  baptized  withall  shall  ye  be 
baptized  :  but  to  sit  on  my  right  hand  and  on  my  left 
hand  is  not  mine  to  give  ;  but  it  shall  be  given  to  them 
for  whom  it  is  prepared  of  my  Father.  And  when  the  ten 
heard  it,  they  began  to  be  much  displeased  with  James 
and  John,  and  were  moved  with  indignation  against  the 
two  brethren.  But  Jesus  called  them  to  him,  and  saith 
unto  them,  Ye  know  that  the  princes  of  the  Gentiles  ex- 
ercise dominion  over  them,  and  they  that  are  great  ex- 
ercise authority  upon  them.  But  it  shall  not  be  so  among 
you  :  but  whosoever  will  be  great  among  you,  shall  be 
your  minister  :  and  whosoever  of  you  will  be  the  chiefest 
among  you,  shall  be  servant  of  all.  For  even  the  Son 
of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister, 
and  to  give  his  life  a  ransom  for  many. 

Astonishing  grace  and  compassion  of  the  Son  of  God  in  going 
up  to  Jerusalem  at  this  passover,  when  he  so  circumstantially 
knew  all  the  things  which  were  to  befall  him  there  1  not  only 
that  he  should  be  put  to  death,  but  in  what  mayiner  he  should 
suffer ;  and  what  cruelty  and  what  scorn  should  introduce  the 
last  scene  of  his  agonies  !  Yet,  with  so  sad  a  prospect  in  his  eye, 
he  marched  on  with  distinguished  alacrity,  leaving  the  company, 
as  if  he  longed  to  encounter  what  they  could  not  bear  to  see,  or 
even  to  hear  of.  Glorious  Captain  of  our  salvation,  give  us  the 
like  alacrity  in  all  the  sufferings  we  are  called  to  bear  for  thee  ! 

Who  would  not  grieve  to  see  these  good  apostles  ?>\.\W.  so  much 
possessed  with  the  spirit  of  this  world,  and  still  dreaming  of 
preferment  in  a  temporal  kingdom?  Who  would  not  especially 
lament  it,  that  his  most  intimate  friends,  James,  and  John  the 
beloved  disciple,  should  be  the  persons  who  should  come  to 
him  with  this  strange  request?  Justly  did  our  Lord  answer 
them,  You  know  not  ichat  you  ask.  And  may  not  the  same  an- 
swer often  be  made  to  us?  When  therefore  he  denies  us  the 
great  things  that  we  are  seeking  for  ourselves,  let  us  be  satisfied 
with  the  denial  he  sees  fit  to  give  us ;  believing  that  it  is  wis- 
dom and  love,  and  not  unkindness,  that  produces  it. 

Let  us  often  ask  ourselves,  Can  we  shai^e  the  sufferings  which 
our  Lord  endured  ?  If  we  do  not  desire  to  do  it  so  far  as  he  shall 
appoint,  we  are  not  worthy  to  be  called  his  disciples.  Let  us  then 
gird  up  the  loins  of  our  minds,  and  wait  our  Master's  signal  to  go 
forth  to  any  suffering  or  service  that  he  shall  require ;  ever  ready 
to  make  ourselves  the  servants  of  all,  and  therein  to  imitate  the 
humility  of  the  Son  of  man,  who  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  279 

but  to  minister :  yet,  after  all  we  can  do  or  bear  for  him,  let  our 
trust  still  be  in  the  merits  of  his  righteousness  and  blood  who  gatJC 
his  life  a  ransom  for  many.  So  shall  we  be  fitted  for  those  dis- 
tinguished honours  in  the  heavenly  world,  in  comparison  with 
which  thrones  and  sceptres  on  earth  are  but  empty  pageants  and 
childish  toys. 


SECTION   LXir. 

Luke    xviii.   35 — 43;    xix.    1.      Matt.  xx.   29 — S4. 
Mark  x.  46—52. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  he  was  come  nigh  unto 
Jericho,  a  certain  blind  man  sat  by  the  way  side  beg- 
ging :  And  lioaring  the  multitude  pass  by  he  asked  what 
it  meant.  And  they  told  him,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
passeth  by.  And  he  cried,  saying,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
David,  have  mercy  on  me.  And  they  which  went  be- 
fore rebuked  him,  that  he  should  hold  his  peace  :  but  he 
cried  out  so  much  the  more.  Thou  Son  of  David,  have 
mercy  on  me.  And  Jesus  stood,  and  commanded  him 
to  be  brought  unto  him  :  And  when  he  was  come  near, 
he  asked  him,  saying.  What  wilt  thou  that  I  should  do 
unto  thee  ?  And  he  said.  Lord,  that  I  may  receive  my 
sight.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Receive  thy  sight : 
thy  faith  hath  saved  thee.  And  immediately  he  re- 
ceived his  sight,  and  followed  him,  glorifying  God  :  And 
all  the  people,  when  they  saw  «Y,  gave  praise  unto  God. 
And  Jesus  entered  and  passed  through  Jericho  ;  and 
as  he  went  out  of  Jericho  with  his  disciples,  a  great 
multitude  followed  him.  And,  behold,  blind  Bartimeus, 
the  son  of  Timeus,  sat  by  the  high-way  side  begging. 
And  when  he  heard  that  it  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who 
passed  by,  he  began  to  cry  out,  and  say.  Have  mercy  on 
me,  O  Lord,  thou  Son  of  David  ;  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
David,  have  mercy  on  me.  And  the  multitude  rebuked 
him,  and  many  charged  him  that  he  should  hold  his 
peace  ;  but  he  cried    the  more  a  great  deal,  saying, 


280  HARMONY  OF   THE 

Have  mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  thou  Son  of  David.  And 
Jesus  stood  still,  and  called  them,  and  commanded  him 
to  be  called.  And  they  call  the  blind  man,  saying  unto 
him,  Be  of  good  comfort,  rise,  he  calleth  you.  And  he 
casting  avi^ay  his  garment,  rose  and  came  to  Jesus. 
And  Jesus  said,  What  wilt  thou  that  I  shall  do  unto 
thee  ?  He  said  unto  him.  Lord,  that  I  might  receive 
my  sight.  So  Jesus  had  compassion  on  him,  and  touch- 
ed his  eyes  :  and  said  unto  him-,  go  thy  way,  thy  faith 
hath  made  thee  whole.  And  immediately  his  eyes  re- 
ceived sight,  and  he  followed  Jesus  in  the  way. 

Our  Lord's  progress  is  marked  with  another  work  of  Divine 
power,  and  beneficence  in  opening  the  eyes  of  the  blind.  With 
what  importunity  was  the  cure  desired !  And  when  the  peti- 
tioner was  for  a  while  discouraged,  with  what  eagerness  was  that 
importunity  xe^ezXeA,  Thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me! 
Thus  will  the  sinner  cry  to  Jesus  when  he  sees  how  much  he 
needs  him.  But,  alas  !  men  are  not  aware  of  their  spiritual  indi- 
gence and  distress :  they  say  they  are  rich,  and  increasing  in 
goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing  ;  and  know  not  that  they  are 
wretched  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked.  (Rev. 
iii.  17.) 

When  once  they  come  to  be  awakened  to  a  just  sense  of  their 
case,  there  is  then  room  for  hope,  and  great  encouragement  for 
their  address.  We  may  in  such  circumstances  say  to  them,  as 
was  said  to  Bartimeus,  Be  of  good  courage,  rise,  he  calleth  thee. 
With  pleasure  should  we  deliver  such  a  message ;  with  pleasure 
should  we  lead  on  the  lame  and  the  blind,  the  weak  and  the  trem- 
bling, in  their  application  to  Christ :  and  in  all  the  instances,  in 
which  his  victorious  grace  is  exercised,  should  join  with  those 
who  have  received  it  in  glorifyirig  God,  and  in  celebrating  the 
praise  of  this  Deliverer,  whom  he  has  mercifully  raised  up  for  his 
people. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  281 

SECTION  LXIII. 

Luke  xix.  1. 

And  behold,  there  was  a  man  named  Zaccheus, 
which  was  the  chief  among  the  publicans,  and  he  was 
rich.  And  he  sought  to  see  Jesus  who  he  was  :  and 
could  not  for  the  press,  because  he  was  little  of  stature. 
And  he  ran  before,  and  climbed  up  into  a  sycamore 
tree  to  see  him  ;  for  he  was  to  pass  that  way.  And 
when  Jesus  came  to  the  place,  he  looked  up  and  saw 
him,  and  said  unto  him,  Zaccheus,  make  haste  and  come 
down  ;  for  to-day  I  must  abide  at  thy  house.  And  he 
made  haste,  and  came  down,  and  received  him  joyfully. 
And  when  they  saw  it,  they  all  murmured,  saying.  That 
he  was  gone  to  be  a  guest  with  a  man  that  is  a  sinner. 
And  Zaccheus  stood,  and  said  unto  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
Lord,  the  half  of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor;  and  if  I 
have  taken  any  thing  from  any  man  by  false  accusation, 
I  restore  him  fourfold.  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  This 
day  is  salvation  come  to  this  house,  forasmuch  as  he 
also  is  a  son  of  Abraham.  For  the  Son  of  man  is 
come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 

Thus  did  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  wheresoever  he  came,  scatter 
blessings  around  him,  both  to  the  souls  and  the  bodies  of  men. 
Who  can  wonder  that  Zaccheus  had  a  curiosity  to  see  such  a  per- 
son !  And  how  happily  did  that  curiosity  end  !  Christ  graciously 
observed  him^  and  with  an  amiable  frankness  and  openness  of 
heart,  invited  himself  to  be  a  Guest  at  his  house ;  choosing  to  ac- 
cept the  entertainment  of  a  publican,  and  to  distinguish  with  a 
particular  regard  one  that  was  so  desirous  to  see  him.  And  let 
us  diligently  observe  how  happy  a  change  this  visit  produced  in 
the  master  of  the  family.  0  Zaccheus,  well  wast  thou  repaid  for 
thine  hospitality  when  salvation  came  to  thine  house,  and  the  Sa- 
viour himself  bore  witness  to  thee  as  a  son  of  Abraham  ! 

What  cannot  the  grace  of  God  effect  ?  This  publican  was  in 
the  morning  contriving  only  how  he  might  increase  his  estate  by 
all  possible  methods  of  gain  ;  and,  before  evening,  he  cries  out, 
lard,  the  half  of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor.  Thus  does  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  operate  on  the  soul,  producing  in  it  the  fruits  of 

25* 


^^2  HARMONY    OF    THE 

righteousness  and  charity  to  our  fellow-creatures,  as  well  as  of 
love  to  God  and  faith  in  the  Redeemer.  And  surely  the  miracle 
by  which  the  walls  of  Jericho  were  many  ages  before  thrown 
down  by  the  sound  of  rams-horns,  was  not  greater  in  its  kind 
than  that  which  now  triumphed  over  the  heart  of  ZaccheuSj  and 
threw  down  all  the  obstacles  which  corrupt  nature  had  formed 
against  the  entrance  of  Christ  into  it. 

Now  were  his  eyes  opened,  and  he  saw  in  a  moment  how  much 
more  valuable  the  pearl  of  price  was  than  all  the  riches  he  could 
part  with  to  procure  it.  And  he  judged  rightly  of  religion  when 
he  saw  the  necessity  not  only  of  faith,  but  of  charity  too  ;  and 
not  only  of  charity,  but  of  restitution  also  to  those  whom  he  had 
injured,  without  which  the  highest  pretences  to  charity  are  but 
presenting  to  God  robbery  for  a  burnt-offering. 


SECTION  LXIV. 

Luke  xix.  1 1 — 28. 

And  as  they  heard  these  things,  he  added  and  spake  a 
parable,  because  he  was  nigh  to  Jerusalem,  and  because 
they  thought  that  the  kingdom  of  God  should  imme- 
diately appear.  He  said  therefore,  a  certain  nobleman 
went  into  a  far  country  to  receive  for  himself  a  king- 
dom, and  to  return.  And  he  called  his  ten  servants, 
and  delivered  them  ten  pounds,  and  said  unto  them,  Oc- 
cupy till  I  come.  But  his  citizens  hated  him,  and  sent 
a  message  after  him,  saying,  We  will  not  have  this 
man  to  reign  over  us.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when 
he  was  returned,  having  received  the  kingdom,  then  he 
commanded  these  servants  to  be  called  unto  him,  to 
whom  he  had  given  the  money,  that  he  might  know  how 
much  every  man  had  gained  by  trading.  Then  came 
the  first,  saying,  Lord,  thy  pound  hath  gained  ten 
pounds.  And  he  said  unto  him,  Well,  thou  good  ser- 
vant :  because  thou  hast  been  faithful  in  a  very  little, 
have  thou  authority  over  ten  cities.  And  the  second 
came,  saying,  Lord,  thy  pound  hath  gained  five  pounds. 
And  he  said  likewise  to  him,  Be  thou  also  over  five  ci- 
ties.    And  another   came,  saying,  Lord,  here  is   thy 


FOUE    GOSPELS.  283 

pound,  which  I  have  kept  laid  up  in  a  napkin  :  for  I  feared 
thee,  because  thou  art  an  austere  man  :  thou  takest  up 
that  thou  laidst  not  down,  and  reapest  that  thou  didst 
not  sow.  And  he  said  unto  him,  Out  of  thine  own 
mouth  will  I  judge  thee,  thou  wicked  servant.  Thou 
knewest  that  I  was  an  austere  man,  taking  up  that  I 
laid  not  down,  and  reaping  that  I  did  not  sow  :  Where- 
fore then  gavest  not  thou  my  money  into  the  bank,  that 
at  my  coming  I  might  have  required  mine  own  with 
usury  ?  And  he  said  unto  them  that  stood  by,  Take 
from  him  the  pound,  and  give  it  to  him  that  hath  ten 
pounds.  (And  they  said  unto  him,  Lord,  he  hath  ten 
pounds.)  For  I  say  unto  you.  That  unto  every  one 
which  hath  shall  be  given  ;  and  from  him  that  hath  not, 
even  that  he  hath  shall  be  taken  away  from  him.  But 
those  mine  enemies  which  would  not  that  I  should  reign 
over  them,  bring  hither,  and  slay  tliem  before  me. 

And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  went  before,  as- 
cending up  toJerusalem. 

Let  U9  also  hear  and  fear.  Our  Lord  is  gone,  and  has  received 
his  kingdom.  He  has  delivered  to  us  our  stock,  to  be  improved 
ia  his  service :  let  us  be  animated  to  diligence  in  it  ;  for  propor- 
tionable to  that  diligence  will  be  our  reicard.  Let  us  remem- 
ber we  labour  for  ourselves  while  we  labour  for  him  ;  as  all  the 
progress  we  make  in  wisdom  and  in  goodness  renders  our  own 
souls  so  much  the  happier,  and  will  render  them  so  to  all  eter- 
nity. Blessed  servants  that  have  the  applause  of  such  a  Master, 
and  share  a  reward  as  liberal  as  that  conferred  on  a  faithful 
steward,  who  should  be  made  governor  of  a.  province  containing 
ten  cities. 

Let  U3  beware  of  a  slothful  neglect  of  our  stock  :  let  us  be- 
ware of  those  hard  thoughts  of  God  which  would  discourage  us 
from  pursuing  his  service.  Above  all,  let  us  take  heed,  that  we 
do  not  proudly  and  \nso\ent\y  reject  the  govrrnment  of  his  anot'n/' 
ed  Son,  and  either  say  with  our  tongues,  or  declare  by  our  ac- 
tions, We  will  not  have  this  man  to  reign  over  us ;  for  if  we  do, 
we  speak  a  word  against  our  own  lives.  He  will  be  glorified 
by  us,  or  upon  us.  And  oh,  what  shall  we  do,  if  in  that  dread- 
ful day  he  should  bring  us  forth  as  the  helpless  prisoners  of  his 
justice,  and  command  us  to  be  slain  in  his  presence  !  How  can 
we  withstand  his  power  1  or  to  the  horns  of  what  altar  shall  we 
flee  for  sanctuary  ?     O  Lord,  our  flesh  tremhleth  for  fear  of  thee. 


284  HARMONY    OF   THE 

and  we  are  afraid  of  thy  judgments.  (Psalm  cxix.  120.)  May 
we  never  be  the  miserable  objects  of  them ;  but  having  faith- 
fully served  thee  here,  may  that  be  to  us  a  day  of  honour,  re- 
ward, and  triumph,  which  shall  be  to  every  presumptuous  re- 
bel a  day  of  shame  and  terror,  of  dreadful  execution  and  eter- 
nal destruction  ! 


SECTION  LXV. 

John  xi.  55 — 57,  xii.  1 — 11.  Matthew  xxvi.  6 — 13. 
Mark  xiv.  3 — 9. 

And  the  Jews'  Passover  was  nigh  at  hand  :  and  many 
went  out  of  the  country  up  to  Jerusalem  before  the 
Passover,  to  purify  themselves.  Then  sought  they  for 
Jesus,  and  spake  among  themselves,  as  they  stood  in 
the  temple,  What  think  ye,  that  he  will  not  come  up  to 
the  feast  ? 

Now  both  the  chief  priests  and  the  Pharisees  had 
given  a  commandment,  that,  if  any  man  knew  where  he 
were,  he  should  shew  it,  that  they  might  take  him. 

Then  Jesus  six  days  before  the  Passover  came  to 
Bethany,  where  Lazarus  was  which  had  been  dead, 
whom  he  raised  from  the  dead.  There  they  made  him 
a  supper  in  the  house  of  Simon  the  leper,  and  Martha 
served :  but  Lazarus  was  one  of  them  that  sat  at  the 
table  with  him.  Then  came  Mary  unto  him,  having  an 
alabaster  box  with  a  pound  of  ointment  of  spikenard, 
very  precious,  and  anointed  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  wiped 
his  feet  with  her  hair.  And  she  brake  the  box,  and 
poured  it  on  his  head,  as  he  sat  at  meat ;  and  the  house 
was  filled  with  the  odour  of  the  ointment.  Then  saith 
one  of  his  disciples,  Judas  Iscariot,  Simon's  son,  which 
should  betray  him,  Why  was  not  this  ointment  sold  for 
three  hundred  pence,  and  given  to  the  poor  1  This  he 
said,  not  that  he  cared  for  the  poor  ;  but  because  he  was 
a  thief,  and  had  the  bag,  and  bare  what  was  put  therein. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  283 

And  there  were  some  disciples  that  had  indignation 
within  themselves,  and  said,  To  what  purpose  is  this 
waste  ?  for  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold  for  much, 
and  given  to  the  poor  ;  and  they  murmured  against  her. 
When  Jesus  understood  it,  he  said  unto  them,  Let  her 
alone  :  why  trouble  ye  the  woman  ?  for  she  hath  wrought 
a  good  work  upon  me.  For  ye  have  the  poor  with  you 
always,  and  whensoever  ye  will  ye  may  do  them  good  : 
but  me  ye  have  not  always.  She  hath  done  what  she 
could:  for  in  that  she  hath  kept  this  ointment,  and 
poured  it  on  my  body,  she  did  it  to  anoint  me  aforehand 
to  my  burying.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  wheresoever  this 
gospel  shall  be  preached  throughout  the  whole  world, 
this  also  that  she  hath  done  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  me- 
morial of  her. 

Much  people  of  the  Jews  therefore  knew  that  he 
was  there :  and  they  came  not  for  Jesus'  sake  only,  but 
that  they  might  see  Lazarus  also,  whom  he  had  raised 
from  the  dead.  But  the  chief  priests  consulted  that 
they  might  put  Lazarus  also  to  death ;  because  that  by 
reason  of  him  many  of  the  Jews  went  away,  and  be- 
heved  on  Jesus. 

We  see  how  happily  Mary  improved  by  sitting  at  the  feet  qf 
Jesus^  and  what  evidence  she  gave  of  her  having  chosen  the 
better  part.  (Compare  Luke  x.  39,  42.)  Like  Aer,  let  us  with 
humble  thankfulness  bestow  our  very  best  on  him,  who  has 
given  us  that  and  every  thing  else.  She  gladly  poured  out  her 
choicest  ointment  on  him,  whose  name  is  to  every  true  believer 
far  more  fragrant  than  ointment  poured  forth.  (Cant.  i.  3.) 
How  does  her  generous  love  shame  those  who  grudge  every 
expense  in  the  cause  of  Christ  I 

When  we  are  relieving  the  pious  poor,  we  are,  as  it  were, 
anointing  the  feet  of  Jesus  :  we  are  indeed  performing  a  service 
far  more  acceptable  than  any  thing  of  this  kind  could  in  itself 
be.  Let  us  remember  that  we  have  the  poor  always  with  us ; 
and  that  they  are  permitted  to  continue  among  us  that  we  may 
do  them-  good  whenever  we  please.  Far  be  it  from  us  to  imagine 
that  what  we  so  spend  is  waste.  Let  all  who  would  not  share 
in  the  guilt  and  punishment  of  Judas  abhor  the  vile  hypocrisy 
of  making  a  pretended  concern  for  the  poor  a  cloak  for  an  op- 
portunity of  enriching  themselves  with  their  spoils  ;  than  which 


286  HARMONY    OF   THE 

nothing  can  be  more  infamous,  or  can  have  a  directer  tendency 
to  mingle  the  consuming  curse  of  a  righteous  and  almighty 
God  with  all  that  a  man  possesses. 

The  Pharisees  conspired  to  kill  Lazarus.  What  a  mixture 
was  this  of  cruelty  and  folly  !  What  was  his  crime  ?  or  what 
could  (heir  hope  be  ?  From  what  death  could  not  Christ  have 
delivered  him  ?  or  from  what  torixh  could  he  not  again  have  re- 
called him?  Yet  something  like  this  is  the  madness  of  all  who 
hate  and  persecute  others  for  being  the  trophies  of  the  Re- 
deemer's victory  and  grace. 

But  let  not  his  servants  fear;  their  Redeemer  is  strong,  the 
Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name.  (Jer.  i.  34.)  His  work  is  perfect ; 
and  the  day  and  hour  is  approaching  in  which  his  triumph 
over  all  his  enemies  shall  be  so  complete,  that  his  friends  shall 
be  for  ever  secure,  not  only  from  being  destroyed,  but  from  be- 
ing alarmed  by  them. 


SECTION  LXVl. 

John  XII.  12 — 19.  Matt.  xxi.  1 — 9.  Markxi.  1 — 10. 
Luke  xix.  29 — 40. 

O?}  the  next  day  much  people  that  were  come  to  the 
feast,  when  they  heard  that  Jesus  was  coming  to  Jeru- 
salem, took  branches  of  palm  trees,  and  went  forth  to 
meet  him,  and  cried,  Hosanna ;  blessed  is  the  King  of 
Israel  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  next  day,  when  they 
drew  nigh  unto  Jerusalem,  and  were  come  to  Beth- 
phage  and  Bethany,  at  the  mount  called  the  mount 
of  Olives,  Jesus  sendeth  forth  two  of  his  disciples, 
saying  unto  them,  Go  your  way  into  the  village  over 
against  you  ;  and  as  soon  as  ye  be  entered  into  it,  ye 
shall  find  an  ass  tied,  and  a  colt  with  her,  whereon 
yet  never  man  sat :  loose  them,  and  bring  them  hither 
unto  me.  And  if  any  man  say  unto  you.  Why  do  ye 
this  ?  Thus  shall  ye  say  unto  him.  The  Lord  hath 
need  of  them  ;  and  straightway  he  will  send  them 
hither. 

And  the  disciples  that  were  sent  went  their  way, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  287 

and  did  as  Jesus  commanded  them,  and  found  the 
colt,  even  as  he  had  said  unto  them,  tied  by  the  door 
without,  in  a  place  where  two  ways  met :  and  they 
loose  him.  And  as  they  were  loosing  the  colt,  the 
owners  thereof  that  stood  there  said  unto  them.  Why 
loose  ye  the  colt  ?  And  they  said  unto  them,  even  as 
Jesus  had  commanded,  the  Lord  hath  need  of  him  ; 
and  they  let  them  go.  And  they  brought  the  ass  and 
the  colt  to  Jesus,  and  they  cast  their  garments  upon 
the  colt ;  and  they  set  Jes5us  thereon,  and  he  sat  upon 
him.  All  this  was  done,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  by  the  prophet,  saying,  as  it  is  written, 
Tell  ye  the  daughter  of  Zion,  Behold,  thy  king  cometh 
unto  thee,  meek,  and  sitting  upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt 
the  foal  of  an  ass.  These  things  understood  not 
his  disciples  at  the  first :  but  when  Jesus  was  glori- 
fied, then  remembered  they  that  these  things  were 
written  of  him,  and  that  they  had  done  these  things  unto 
him. 

And  as  he  went,  a  very  great  multitude  spread 
their  garments  in  the  way  ;  and  others  cut  down  bran- 
ches off  the  trees,  and  strawed  them  in  the  way.  And 
when  he  was  come  nigh,  even  now  at  the  descent  of 
the  mount  of  Olives,  the  whole  multitude  of  the  disci- 
ples began  to  rejoice  and  praise  God  with  a  loud  voice 
for  all  the  mighty  works  that  they  had  seen.  And  the 
multitudes  that  went  before,  and  that  followed,  cried, 
saying,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David  !  blessed  is  he,  a 
king,  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  blessed  be 
the  kingdom  of  our  father  David,  that  cometh  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  Hosanna  in  the  highest !  Peace  in 
heaven,  and  glory  in  the  highest ! 

The  people  therefore  that  was  with  him  when  he 
called  Lazarus  out  of  his  grave,  and  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  bare  record.  For  this  cause  the  people  also 
met  him,  for  that  they  heard  that  he  had  done  this 
miracle.  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  among  them- 
selves. Perceive  ye  how  ye  prevail  nothing  ?  behold,  the 
world  is  gone  after  him.     And  some  of  the  Pharisees 


288  HARMONY   OF   THE 

from  among  the  multitude  said  unto  him,  Master, 
rebuke  thy  disciples.  And  he  answered  and  said  unto 
them,  I  tell  you,  that  if  these  should  hold  their  peace,  the 
stones  would  immediately  cry  out. 


Let  us  behold  this  meek  triumph  of  the  great  Redeemer  with 
pleasure !  He  entered  the  capital  of  his  kingdom  riding  upon  an 
ass;  a  circumstance  in  which  he  made,  though  by  no  means  a 
ridiculous,  yet  to  be  sure  a  very  humble  figure ;  yea,  he  appeared 
exactly  as  the  prophet  described  him,  upon  a  colt,  the  foal  of  an 
ass  ;  not  yet  grown  up  to  its  best  form,  nor  adorned  with  any 
sumptuous  or  elegant  furniture,  but  only  covered  with  the  tJian- 
tles  of  his  poor  attendants,  and  perhaps  with  nothing  better  than 
a  cord  for  a  bridle,  which  might  have  tied  the  foal  at  the  door. 

Let  us  imagine  that  we  saw  the  Son  of  God  and  the  King  of 
Israel,  thus  proceeding  towards  Jerusalem,  and  the  people  meet- 
ing him,  and  surrounding  him  with  their  acclamations  :  Hosan- 
nah  !  Blessed  be  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  Do 
npt  our  hearts  spring  at  the  sound  ?  Do  we  not,  as  it  were  in 
spirit,  go  forthwith  them,  and  join  in  their  sublime,  though  simple 
song  ?  Thus  let  us  welcome  him  into  our  hearts !  Let  us  echo 
it  back  !  Blessed  he  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  with 
Divine  authority,  and  Divine  blessings  in  his  hand  !  And  blessed 
be  the  kingdom  he  hath  erected !  May  perpetual  prosperity  at- 
tend it !  May  the  north  give  up  a  swarm  of  subjects  to  it ;  and 
may  not  the  south  keep  back  her  swarthy  sons  I  May  nations  be 
born  at  once,  and  thousands  together  made  willing  in  the  day  of 
his  power  !  Surely  if  these  are  not  our  affectionate  wishes,  the 
warm  and  zealous  sentiments  of  our  very  hearts,  it  may  almost 
be  expected  that  the  very  stones  should  cry  out,  to  accuse  and 
condemn  our  ungrateful  stupidity. 

Unhappy  Pharisees,  who  looked  on  these  triumphs  with  envy 
and  rage,  and  grieved  that  the  world  ivas  gone  after  him  !  Yet 
less  unhappy  had  they  not  renewed  their  attempts  against  him, 
those  fatal  attempts  which  ended  in  their  ruin !  But  who,  that 
had  seen  the  procession,  and  heard  the  shouts  of  the  transported 
multitude,  could  have  imagined  or  believed,  that  before  the  end 
of  the  week  they  should  have  turned  their  voices  against  him, 
and  instead  of  Hosannah,  should  have  cried  out,  Crucify  him  1 
Yet  so  it  was,  and  Christ  knew  it  would  be  so.  Such  is  the  un- 
certainty of  popular  applause  !  Who  would  then  purchase  it  at 
the  expense  of  his  conscience,  or  even  of  his  ease  ? 

These  transports  were  raised  by  the  hopes  of  a  temporal  king- 
dom ;  and  when  those  hopes  were  disappointed,  these  transports 
were  turned  into  rage.  Oh  that  there  may  be  none,  under  all  the 
engagements  of  a  Christian,  and  even  of  a  ministerial  profession, 
who  proclaim  Christ  with  great  appearances  of  zeal,  only  that 


FOUR    GOSPKLS. 


280 


they  may  exalt  themselves ;  and  wish  prosperity  to  his  kingdom, 
only  as  it  may  promote  their  own  interest  in  a  world  from  which 
it  was  the  great  design  of  his  death  to  redeem  his  seivants. 


SECTION  LXVir. 

Matt.  xxi.  10,  11,   14,  17.     Mark  xi.  11. 
Luke  xix.  41 — 44. 

And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld  the  city,  and 
wept  over  it,  saying,  If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thoi], 
at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  iDhich  belong  unto  thy 
peace !  but  now  tliey  are  hid  from  thine  eyes.  For  the 
days  shall  come  upon  thee,  that  thine  enemies  shall  cast 
a  trench  about  thee,  and  compass  thee  round,  and  keep 
thee  in  on  every  side,  and  shall  lay  thee  even  with  the 
ground,  and  thy  children  within  thee  :  and  tliey  shall  not 
leave  in  thee  one  stone  upon  another  ;  because  thou 
knewest  not  the  time  of  thy  visitation. 

And  Jesus  entered  into  Jerusalem,  and  when  he  was 
come  into  Jerusalem,  all  the  ciiy  was  moved,  saying, 
Who  is  this  ?  and  the  multitude  said,  This  is  Jesus  the 
prophet  of  Nazareth  of  Galilee.  And  Jesus  went  into 
the  temple  and  looked  round  about  upon  all  things  :  and 
the  blind  and  the  lame  came  to  him  in  the  temple,  and 
he  healed  them.  And  when  the  chief  priests  and 
Scribes  saw  the  wonderful  things  he  did,  and  the  chil- 
dren crying  in  the  temple,  and  saying,  Hosanna  to  the 
Son  of  David  !  they  were  sore  displeased,  and  said  unto 
him,  Hearest  thou  what  these  say  ?  And  Jesus  saiih 
unto  them,  Yea  ;  have  ye  never  read,  Out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise  ? 

And  when  now  the  eventide  was  come,  he  went 
out  of  the  city  into  Bethany  with  the  twelve  :  an<I  he 
lodged  there. 

The  Scribes  and  Pharisees  envied  Christ;  but  the  children 
surround  him  with  their  Hosannahs  ;  aud  he  graciously  accepts 

26 


290  HARMONY  OF  THE 

their  feeble  accents  of  praise,  as  ordained  by  God  out  of  the  mouth 
of  babes  and  sucklings.  Nor  will  he  now  despise  the  day  of 
small  things.  Oh  that  we  might  have  the  pleasure  to  see  little 
children  pronouncing  the  name  of  Christ  with  reverence  and  love! 
And  surely  we  who  Are  parents  must  add,  with  a  peculiar  accent. 
Oh  that  our  own  may  jom  in  the  choir !  May  they  learn  the  song 
from  our  lips :  and  may  our  whole  lives  be  one  continued  visible 
proof  of  the  devotion  and  affection  with  which  we  present  it! 
AMnen. 


SECTION  LXVIII. 
John  xii.  20 — 36. 

And  there  were  certain  Greeks  among  them  that  came 
up  to  worship  at  the  feast:  The  same  came  therefore 
to  Phihp,  which  was  of  Bethsaida  of  Galilee,  and  de- 
sired him,  saying,  Sir,  we  would  see  Jesus.  Philip 
Cometh  and  lelleth  Andrew  :  and  again  Andrew  and 
Philip  tell  Jesus. 

And  Jesus  answered  them,  saying,  The  hour  is  come, 
that  the  Son  of  man  should  be  glorified.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into 
the  ground  and  die,  it  abideth  alone  :  but  if  it  die,  it 
bringeth  forth  much  fruit.  He  that  loveth  his  life  shall 
lose  it  ;  and  he  that  hatelh  his  life  in  this  world  shall 
keep  it  unto  life  eternal.  If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him 
follow  me  ;  and  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my  ser 
vant  be  :  If  any  man  serve  me,  him  will  my  Father 
honour. 

Now  is  my  soul  troubled  ;  and  what  shall  I  say  ? 
Father,  save  me  from  this  hour:  but  for  this  cause  came 
I  unto  this  hour.  Father,  glorify  thy  name.  Then 
come  there  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  I  have  both 
glorified  it,  and  will  glorify  ii  again.  The  people  there- 
fore, that  stood  by,  and  heard  it,  said  that  it  thundered  : 
others  said,  An  angel  spake  to  him.  Jesus  answered, 
and  said.  This  voice  came  not  because  of  me,  but  for 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  291 

your  sakes.  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  worlti :  now 
shall  the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out.  And  I,  if  I 
be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me. 
This  he  said,  signifying  what  death  he  should  die. 

The  people  answered  him,  We  have  heard  out  ofthe 
law  that  Christ  abideth  for  ever  :  and  how  sayest  thou, 
the  Son  of  man  must  be  lifted  up  ?  who  is  this  Son  of 
man  ?  Then  Jesus  said  unto  tliem,  Yet  a  little  while  is 
the  light  with  you  :  walk  while  ye  have  the  light,  lest 
darkness  come  upon  you  ;  for  he  that  walketh  in  dark- 
ness knoweth  not  whither  he  goeth.  While  ye  have 
light,  believe  in  the  light,  that  ye  may  be  the  children 
©flight. 

These   things  spake   Jesus,    and  departed,   and   did 
hide  himself  from  them. 


Who  can  wonder  at  the  desire  these  Greeks  expressed  to  see 
so  celebrated  a  person  hs  Jesus  was !  We  hope  there  was  some- 
thing' more  than  mere  curiosity  in  it,  and  that  at  length  they 
saw  him  with  believing'  eyes,  and,  according  to  his  prediction, 
glorified  him  by  a  cordial  acceptance  of  his  gospel. — His  disci' 
ples^  we  see  were  ready  to  introduce  them  :  and  surely  every 
faithful  minister  of  Christ  will  undertake  the  task  with  pleasure 
when  he  sees  souls  awakened  by  Divine  grace,  and  inquiring 
after  Jesus  with  affectionate  concern. 

Blessed  be  God,  it  has  already,  in  many  instances,  been  seen 
that  by  the  death  of  Christ  an  immortal  seed  was  sown,  which 
has  multiplied  in  all  ages,  and  is  still  multiplyi.ng :  Oh  that  it 
might  have  a  greater  increase  I  One  would  think  that  words  so 
gracious  as  these  should  promote  that  mcrea^e,  and  operate  upou 
every  heart  to  produce  a  love  to  him  sufficient  to  conquer  every 
danger  and  opposition  which  maybe  met  with  in  his  cause: 
behold  the  promise  which  he  has  left  upon  record  ;  "  If  any  man, 
be  he  ever  so  mean  and  unworthy,  will  but  faithfully  serve  and 
follow  me,  whatever  his  former  wanderings  and  rebellious  may 
have  been,  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my  servant  bey  Happy 
state  indeed  !  not  only,  like  these  Greeks  to  have  a  transient 
sight  of  Christ,  but  to  he  for  ever  with  him  ! 

How  admirable  is  the  love  and  steadfastness  of  our  Redeemer^ 
who  procured  so  great  a  happiness  for  us  at  so  dear  an  expense ! 
and  even  when  his  innocent  soul  was  troubled  in  the  view  of  his 
sufferings,  instead  of  declining  them,  he  met  them  with  joy  ! 
How  should  it  animate  us  to  renew  that  general  comprehensive 


td't  HARMONY  OF  THE 

petition,  than  which  none  can  be  more  suitable  to  us  with  re- 
g^ard  to  all  the  divine  dispensations  ;  Father,  glorijy  thine  own 
name!  Glorify  thyself,  0  Lord  I  and  to  that  great  end  dispose 
of  us  as  thou  pleasest ;  for  we  should  abhor  ourselves  if  we  had 
any  interest  separate  from  thine  ! 

We  may  be  assured,  as  certainly  as  by  a  voice  from  heaven, 
that  this  great  end  shall  be  answered  :  and  in  this  we  should  re- 
joice. Behold  the  prince  of  this  world  is  cast  out  !  Behold,  Satan 
is  vanquished  by  Christ  !  and  Jesus  is  lifted  up  on  the  cross  for 
a  standard  to  all  the  nations.  Behold  the  attractive  magnet  by 
which  all  men  are  to  be  drawn,  by  which  all  his  chosen  people 
shall  be  brought  to  him,  and  so  raised  up  to  heaven  itself!  Let 
us  look  unto  him  from  the  endx  of  the  earth,  and  labour  with  our 
cold  hearts  to  awaken  them  to  that  lively  and  ardent  affection 
which  we  owe  to  him  who  was  crucified forus. 

For  ever  adored  be  Divine  grace  for  this  gospel  light  which 
discovers  to  us  so  excellent  an  object!  May  we  use  it  to  saving 
purposes,  and  so  walk  in  it,  as  that  we  may  appear  to  be  the 
children  of  light!  Let  us  think  of  that  last  distribution  of  man- 
kind, when.Jhe  children  and  heirs  af  light  and  darkness  are  once 
for  all  to  be  separated.  Let  us  think  of  the  gloom  of  eternal 
nighty  which  will  shorly  overtake  those  by  whom  the  gospel  is 
now  despised;  and  remember  how  much  it  will  be  aggravated 
by  the  light  we  have  so  long  seen.  Do  thou,  O  God,  at  whose 
word  light  arose  out  of  darkness,  send  forth  by  thine  influences 
on  our  hearts  thi/  light  and  thy  truth,  that  they  may  lead  and 
bring  us  to  thine  holy  hill,  (Psaim  xliii  3.)  and  that  we  may 
have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  whither  we  go,  even  when  we 
walk  through  the  dark  valUy  of  the  shadoio  of  death.  (Psalm 
xxiii.  4.) 


SECTION  LXIX. 

Matt.  xxr.  1.3 — 22.     Mark  xi.  12 — 26.     Like  xix. 

45—48. 

Now  on  the  morrow,  in  the  morning  as  he  returned  from 
Bethany  into  the  city,  he  hungered.  And  seeing  a  fig- 
tree  afar  off  in  the  way  having  leaves,  he  came  to  it,  if 
haply  he  might  find  any  thing  thereon  :  and  when  he 
came  to  it,  he  found  nothing  thereon  but  leaves  only  ; 
for  the  time  of  figs  was  not  yet.     And  Jesus  answered 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  293 

and  said  unto  it,  Let  no  fruit  grow  on  thee  henceforward  : 
No  man  eat  fruit  of  thee  hereafter  for  ever.  And  his  dis- 
ciples heard  if.  And  presently  the  fig-tree  withered 
away.  And  when  the  disciples  saw  it,  they  marvelled, 
saying,  How  soon  is  the  fig-tree  withered  away !  Jesus 
answered  and  said  unto  them,  Veiily  I  say  unto  you,  If 
ye  have  faith,  and  doubt  not,  ye  shall  not  only  do  this 
which  is  done  to  the  fig-tree,  but  also  if  ye  shall  say  unto 
this  mountain,  Be  thou  removed,  and  be  thou  cast  into 
the  sea  ;  it  shall  be  done.  And  all  things,  whatsoever 
ye  shall  ask  in  prayer  believing,  ye  shall  receive. 

And  they  come  to  Jerusalem  ;  and  Jesus  went  into 
the  temple,  and  began  to  cs-st  out  them  that  sold  and 
bought  in  the  temple,  and  overthrew  the  tables  of  the 
money-changers,  and  the  seats  of  them  that  sold  doves  ; 
and  would  not  suffer  that  any  man  should  carry  any 
vessel  through  the  temple.  And  he  taught,  saying  unto 
them,  Is  it  not  written.  My  house  shall  be  called  of  all 
nations  the  house  of  prayer  ?  but  ye  have  made  it  a  den 
of  thieves.  And  he  taught  daily  in  the  temple  :  and  the 
Scribes  and  chief  priests  heard  zY,  and  sought  how  they 
might  destroy  him  ;  and  could  not  find  what  they  might 
do  :  for  they  feared  him,  because  all  the  people  were 
very  attentive  to  hear  him,  and  were  astonished  at  his 
doctrine.  And  when  even  was  come,  he  went  out  of 
the  city. 

And  in  the  morning,  as  they  passed  by,  they  saw  the 
fig-tree  dried  up  from  the  roots.  And  Peter  calling  to 
remembrance  saith  unto  him,  Master,  behold,  the  fig- 
tree  which  thou  cursedst  is  withered  away.  And  Jesus 
answering,  said  unto  them,  Have  faith  in  God  ;  for  verily 
I  say  unto  you,  That  whosoever  shall  say  unto  this  moun- 
tain, Be  thou  removed,  and  be  thou  cast  into  the  sea  ; 
and  shall  not  doubt  in  his  heart,  but  shall  believe  that 
those  things  which  he  saith  shall  come  to  pass  ;  he  shall 
Jiave  whatsoever  he  saith.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you, 
What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that 
ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them.  And  when  ye 
stand  praying,  forgive,  if  ye  have  ought  against  any ; 

26* 


294  HARMONY    OF   THE 

that  your  Father  also  which  is  in  heaven  may  forgive  yo« 
your  trespasses.  But  if  ye  do  not  forgive,  neither  will 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  forgive  your  trespasses. 

May  none  of  lis  ever  indulge  such  a  temper,  or  ever 'rest  in 
an  empty  profession;  lest,  being  like  the  Jig -tret  before  us, 
which  had  haves  but  uo  fruit,  the  curse  of  Christ  should  be  pro- 
nounced upon  us,  which  would  immediately  wither  us  amidst 
ail  our  verdure  I  Let  us  remember  that  this  was  intended  as 
cue  of  those  significant  actions  by  which  the  holy  messengers 
of  God  frequently  intimated  approaching  judgments.  Happy 
would  it  have  been  if  some,  instead  of  searching  out  objections 
against  it,  had  seriously  considered  its  design,  and  the  sad  aspect 
with  nhich  it  looks  on  those  who,  like  them,  receive  the  grace 
of  God  in  vain  I 

How  hard  is  it  to  purge  a  carnal  heart,  and  disentangle  it 
from  the  snares  of  a  deceitful  world  !  No  sooner  were  thes^ 
traders  driven  from  the  ttmple,  but  they  return  to  it  again  ;  and 
are  as  busy  the  next  day  in  the  pursuit  of  their  unlawful  gain 
as  they  had  been  before.  And  thus  how  often  are  convictions 
stifled  by  the  lovo  of  this  world  !  And  if  the  voice  of  conscience, 
or  the  word  of  God,  may  interrupt  us  for  a  while  in  our  un- 
lawful courses,  yet  where  it  may  affect  our  worldly  interest, 
how  ready  are  we  to  return  to  them  again  !  and  with  what 
difficulty  are  we  brought  so  far  to  lay  aside  our  earthly  pro- 
jects, as  not  to  take  them  with  us  into  the  house  of  Gad  !  Purge 
us,  O  Lord.,  from  every  irregular  desire  ;  pur.'ue  and  perfect 
thine  own  work  ;  and  inclir^e  our  hearts  unto  thy  testimonies,  and 
not  unto  coretousnessi    (Psahn  cxix.  36.) 

The  promises  which  are  made  to  a  miraculous  faith  in  prayer, 
are  not  indeed  our  immediate  concern;  but  we  may  ^ruly  infer 
from  them  some  encouragement  in  favour  oi  Vcie  prayer  of  faith, 
on  whatever  account,  and  in  whatever  circumslar  ces  it  oe 
oflFered.  At  least  we  may  infer  the  necessity  of  forgiving  in- 
juries, if  we  desire  that  our  petitions  should  be  received  with 
favour.  Let  us  remember  it;  and  labour  to  approach  the 
throne  o(  n  forgiving  God,  with  hearts  I'ot  only  clearof  every 
malignant  passion,  but  full  of  that  cordial  and  universal  henevB- 
lenc»  which  may  engage  us  to  pray  for  all  men,  and  particularly 
for  those  who  have  least  deserved  our  kindness,  and  seem  least 
disposed  to  requite  it. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  295 


SECTION  LXX. 

Matt.  xxi.  23—32.      Mark  xi.    27 — 33.     Luke  xx. 

1—8. 

And  they  came  again  to  Jerusalem  :  and  it  came 
to  pass,  that  as  he  was  walking  and  taught  the 
people  in  the  temple,  and  preached  the  gospel,  the 
chief  priests  and  the  Scribes  came  upon  him  with  the 
elders  of  the  people,  and  spake  unto  him,  saying,  Tell 
us,  by  what  authority  doest  thou  these  things  ?  and  who 
is  he  that  gave  thee  this  authority  to  do  these  things  ? 
And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  I  will  also 
ask  of  you  one  question,  which  if  ye  tell  me,  I  in  like 
wise  will  tell  you  by  what  authority  1  do  these  things. 
The  baptism  of  John,  whence  was  it  1  was  it  from 
heaven,  or  of  men  ?  answer  me.  And  they  reasoned 
with  themselves,  saying.  If  we  shall  say.  From  heaven  ; 
he  will  say  unto  us,  W  hy  did  ye  not  then  believe  him  ? 
But  if  we  shall  say,  Of  men  ;  we  fear  the  people  :  and 
all  the  people  will  stone  us,  for  all  hold  John  as  a 
prophet.  And  they  answered  and  said  unto  Jesus,  We 
cannot  tell  whence  it  ivas.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
Neither  tell  I  you  by  what  authority  I  do  these  things. 
But  what  think  ye  ?  A  certain  man  had  two  sons  :  and 
he  came  to  the  first,  and  said.  Son,  go  work  to-day  in 
my  vineyard.  He  answered  and  said,  I  will  not:  but 
afterward  he  repented  and  went.  And  he  came  to  the 
second,  and  said  likewise.  And  he  answered  and 
said.  1^0,  sir:  and  went  not.  Whether  of  them  twain 
did  the  wilj  of  hi^i  father  ?  They  say  unto  him,  The 
first.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
That  the  pubhcans  and  the  harlots  go  into  the  kingdom 
of  God  before  you.  For  John  came  unto  you  in  the 
way  of  righteousness,  and  ye  believed  him  not  :  but  the 
publicans  and  the  harlots  believed  him  :  and  ye,  when 
ye  had  seen  it,  repented  not  afterward,  that  ye  mighjt 
believe  him. 


296  HARMONY    OP    THE 


Matt.  XXI.  33— 46.     Mark  xii.  I — 12.    Luke  xx. 

9—19. 

And  he  began  to  speak  unto  them  by  parables : 
Hear  ai.other  parable  :  There  was  a  certain  house- 
holder, which  planted  a  vineyard,  and  hedged  it  round 
about,  and  digged  a  wine-press  in  it,  and  built  a  tower, 
and  let  it  out  to  husbandmen,  and  went  into  a  far 
country  for  a  long  time.  And  at  the  season,  when  the 
time  of  the  fruit  drew  near,  he  sent  to  the  husbandmen 
a  servant,  that  he  might  receive  from  the  husbandmen 
of  the  fruit  of  the  vineyard.  But  the  husbandmen 
caught  him,  and  beat  him,  and  sent  him  away  empty. 
And  again  he  sent  unto  them  another  servant ;  and  at 
him  they  cast  stones,  and  they  beat  him  also,  and 
wounded  him  in  the  head,  and  entreated  him  shame- 
fully, and  sent  hi7n  away  empty.  And  again  he  sent  the 
third  ;  and  they  wounded  him  also,  and  cast  him  out, 
and  him  they  killed.  Again  he  sent  other  servants 
more  than  the  first ;  and  they  did  unto  them  likewise. 

Then  the  lord  of  the  vineyard  having  yet  therefore 
one  son,  his  well-beloved,  he  said,  What  shall  Ido  ? 
I  will  send  my  beloved  son :  it  may  be  they  will  rever- 
ence him  when  they  see  him.  He  sent  him  also  last  of 
all  unto  them.  But  when  the  husbandmen  saw  the 
son,  they  reasoned,  among  themselves,  saying.  This  is 
the  heir  ;  come,  let  us  kill  him,  and  let  us  seize  on  his 
inheritance,  and  it  shall  be  ours.  And  they  caught  Am, 
and  cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard,  and  slew  him.  When 
the  lord  therefore  of  the  vineyard  cometh,  what  will  he 
do  unto  those  husbandmen  ?  They  say  unto  him,  He 
will  come  and  miserably  destroy  those  wicked  men,  and 
will  let  out  his  vineyard  to  other  husbandmen,  which 
shall  render  him  the  fruits  in  their  seasons.  Jesus  saith, 
He  shall  come  and  destroy  the  husbandmen,  and  will 
give  the  vineyard  unto  others.  And  when  they  heard 
it  they  said,  God  forbid.    And  he  beheld  them,  and  said, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  297 

Di'J  ye  never  read  in  the  scriptures,  The  stone  which 
the  builders  rejected,  the  same  is  become  the  head  of 
the  corner :  This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  mar- 
vellou.^  in  our  eyes  ?  Tlierefore  say  I  unto  you.  The 
kingdom  of  God  shall  be  taken  fiom  you,  and  given  to 
a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof  And  whoso- 
ever shall  fall  on  this  stone  shall  be  broken  :  but  on 
whomsoever  it  shall  fall,  it  will  grind  him  to  powder. 

And  when  the  chief  priests  and  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  had  heard  his  parables,  they  perceived  that 
he  spake  of  them  ;  and  the  same  hour  they  sought  to 
lay  hands  on  him  ;  but  they  feared  the  multitude, 
because  they  took  him  for  a  prophet. 

When  "we  read  this  parable,  and  consider  it  as  levelled  at  the 
Jews^  we  applaud  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  in  revenging' 
so  severely  upon  them  the  quarrel  of  his  covenant^  and  the 
blood  of  his  Son;  but  let  us  take  heed  to  ourselves,  lest  we  also 
fall  after  the  same  example  of  unbelief.     (Heb.  iv.  11.) 

God  has  given  to  every  man  some  part  of  his  vineyard  to 
cultivate  and  improve,  or  some  advantages  to  know  and  serve 
him.  And  as  for  us  vv^ho  enjoy  the  Christian  dispensation,  we 
have  particular  reason  to  say,  the  lines  are  fallen  to  us  in  plea- 
sant places.  (Psalm  xvi.  6.)  What  could  he  have  done  more 
for  this  part  of  his  vineyard  ?  How  ungrateful  therefore  shall 
we  be,  and  how  miserable  too,  if  we  withhold  the  fruits  he  so 
reasonably  expects ;  if  we  slight  the  messengers  by  whom  he  so 
frequently  and  so  pathetically  demands  them  ;  yea,  if  by  wilful 
impenitence  and  unbelief  we  in  effect  renew  the  slaughtir  of 
his  beloved  Son,  after  that  amazing  favour  he  has  done  us,  in 
charging  him  with  an  embassy  of  peace  to  us.  whose  aggravated 
crimes  had  long  since  deserved  that  he  should  have  ^ent 
amongst  us  the  messengers  of  his  vengeance.  Oh  that  we  may 
never  be  condemned  out  of  our  own  mouths  in  the  censures  we 
pass  on  the  guilty  Jews  ! 

We  cannot  surely  think  of  the  awful  threatening  of  our 
Lord  without  some  secret  terror  for  ourselves,  when  we  consi- 
der how  shamefully  we  of  this  nation  have  abused  our  privi- 
leges. The  kingdom  of  God,  said  he.  .ihall  be  taken  from  you, 
and  given  to  a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  fkcrtof.  God  had 
been  just,  had  he  long  since  executed  such  a  judgment  upon 
us  :  may  he  be  merciful  to  us  all  in  suspending  and  averting  it ! 
May  his  compassion  particularly  extend  to  those  amongst  us 
who  reject  Christianity ;  for  the  passage  before  us  has  a  dread- 


298  HARMONY    OF    THE 

ful  aspect  upon  such!  Whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether 
they  will  forbear  ;  whether  they  will  submit,  or  whether  they 
will  oppose  ;  Christ  is  made  the  Head  of  the  corner,  and  God 
will  for  ever  establish  him  as  such.  Woe  to  them  who,  instead 
of  joining'  with  him,  and  fixing  the  stress  of  their  souls  upon 
him,  deliberately  set  themselves  to  oppose  his  cause  and  inter- 
est!  On  such  undoubtedly  uill  he  fall  like  a  mighty  rock  of 
adamant,  and  miserably  crush  them  in  pieces,  and  grind  them  to 
powder. 

Thus  did  our  Lord  warn  his  enemies  most  wisely  and  most 
graciously;  but  they  despised  the  admonition,  and  hated  him 
for  what  was  so  kindly  intended.  The^/  sought  to  lay  hands  on 
him  because  he  hads-poken  this  parable  against  them.  High  pro- 
vocation indeed,. to  set  their  danger  faithfully  before  them,  that 
if  by  any  means  it  were  possible  they  might  be  awakened  to 
escape  it !  But,  alas,  what  can  save  those  whose  spiritual  dis- 
tempers are  exasperated  by  the  most  proper  remedies  prescribed 
for  their  cure. 


SECTION  LXXI. 

Matthew  xxii.   1 — 14. 

And  Jesus  answered  and  spake  unto  them  again  by 
parables,  and  said,  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  Hke  unto 
a  certain  king,  which  made  a  marriage  for  his  son,  and 
sent  forth  his  servants  to  call  them  that  were  bidden  to 
the  wedding  ;  and  they  would  not  come.  Again,  he 
sent  forth  other  servants,  saying,  Tell  them  which  are 
bidden.  Behold,  1  have  prepared  my  dinner  :  my  oxen 
and  my  fallings  are  killed,  and  all  things  are  ready  :  come 
unto  the  marriage.  But  they  made  light  of  ?^  and  went 
their  ways,  one  to  his  farm,  another  to  his  merchandise  : 
And  the  remnant  took  his  servants,  and  entreated  them 
spitefully,  and  slew  them.  But  when  the  king  heard  there- 
of, he  was  wroth  :  and  he  sent  forth  his  armies,  and  de- 
stroyed those  murderers,  and  burnt  up  their  city.  Then 
saith  he  to  his  servants,  The  wedding  is  ready,  but  they 
which  were  bidden  were  not  worthy.  Go  ye  therefore 
into  the  highways,  and  as  many  as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  299 

the  marriage.  So  those  servants  went  out  into  the  high- 
ways, and  gathered  together  all  as  many  as  they  found, 
both  bad  and  good  :  and  the  wedding  was  furnished  with 
guests.  And  when  the  king  came  in  to  sec  the  guests, 
be  saw  there  a  man  which  had  not  on  a  wedding  gar- 
ment :  and  he  saith  unto  him.  Friend,  how  camest  thou 
in  hither  not  having  a  wedding  garment  ?  And  he  was 
speechless.  Then  said  the  king  to  the  servants.  Bind 
him  hand  pnd  foot,  and  take  him  away,  and  cast  him  in- 
to outer  darkness:  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing 
of  teeth.     For  many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen. 

How  rich  are  the  provisions  of  the  gospel !  a  feast  indeed  be- 
coming the  bounty  and  majesty  of  the  King  of  heaven  ;  and  pro- 
portionable even  to  the  love  which  he  bears  to  his  own  Son.  in 
honour  of  whom  it  is  made  ! 

How  wonderful  is  the  grace  which  calls  us  to  the  participation 
of  these  provisions  ;  us,  who  were  originally  sinners  of  the  Gen- 
tiles,  aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel,  and  strangers  to 
the  covenant  of  promise  !  (,Eph.  ii.  12.)  Yet  has  he  graciously 
sent  his  messengers  to  us,  and  invited  us  to  his  hou^e,  yea,  to  his 
table,  with  the  additional  hope  of  yet  nobler  entertainments  in  re- 
serve. May  none  of  us  I'eject  so  condescending  a  call,  lest  we 
tuin  his  goodness  into  righteous  indignation,  and  treasure  up  to 
ourselves  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath  !  (Rom.  ii.  5.) 

Let  us  also  remCTnber,  that  it  is  not  every  one  who  professes  to 
accept  the  entertainment,  not  every  one  who  talks  of  gospel-bles- 
sings, and  seems  to  desire  a  share  in  them,  that  will  be  admitted 
to  it.  No  ;  in  order  to  our  partaking  of  an  inheritance  among 
the  saints  in  light,  it  is  necessary  that  we  be  made  meet  for  it  by 
the  holiness  both  of  our  hearts  and  lives,  (Col.  i,  12.)  This  is  the 
loedding- garment,  wrought  by  the  Spirit  of  God  himself,  and 
offered  to  us  by  the  freedom  of  his  grace.  And  it  is  so  necessary, 
that  without  it  we  must  be  separated  from  the  number  of  his 
guests  and  fi lends,  and  even,  though  we  had  eaten  and  drank  in 
his  presence,  must  be  cast  into  outer  darkness.  (Luke  xiii.  26.) 

Frequently  let  us  think  of  that  awful  day  when  the  King  will 
come  in  to  iee  his  guests  ;  when  God  will  take  a  most  exact  sur- 
vey of  eveiy  soul  under  a  Christian  profession.  Let  us  think  of 
that  speechless  confusion  which  will  seize  such  as  have  not  on  the 
vjedding- garment,  and  of  that  inexorable  severity  with  which 
they  will  be  consigned  to  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  To 
have  seen  for  a  while  the  light  of  the  gospel,  and  the  fair  beam- 
ings of  an  eternal  hope,  will  add  deeper  and  more  sensible  horror 
to  those  gloomy  caverns ;  to  have  heard  those  glad  tidings  of 
great  joy,  and  to  hear  them,  as  it  were,  echoed  back  in  accents  of 


300  HARMONY    OF    THE 

final  despair,  how  will  it  wound  the  ear,  and  pierce  the  very 
heart !  May  God  prevent  it,  \iy  fulfilling  in  us  all  the  good  plea- 
sure of  his  goodness,  and  the  work  of  faith  with  power  ;  that  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  he  glorified  in  us,  and  we  in 
him  (2  !  hess.  i.  11,  12.)  when  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb 
fchdU  be  celebrated,  and  all  the  harmony,  pomp,  and  beauty  of 
heaven  shall  aid  its  solemnity,  its  magnificence,  and  its  joy  ! 


SECTION  LXXII. 

Matt.  XXII.  15—22.     Mark  xii.  13—17. 
Luke  xx.  20 — 26. 

Then  went  the  Pharisees,  and  took  counsel  how  thf-y 
might  entangle  him  in  his  talk.  And  they  watched  him, 
and  sent  forth  spies,  certain  of  their  disciples  with  the 
Herodians,  which  should  feign  themselves  just  men.  that 
they  might  take  hold  of  his  words,  that  so  they  might  de- 
liver him  unto  the  power  and  authority  of  the  governor. 
And  when  they  were  come,  they  asked  him,  saying, 
Master,  we  know  that  thou  art  true,  that  thou  say  est  and 
teachest  rightly,  neither  carest  thou  for  any  man,  for  thou 
regardest  not  the  person  of  men,  but  teachest  the  way 
of  God  in  truth.  Tell  us  therefore,  What  thinkest  thou  ? 
Is  it  lawful  to  give  tribute  unto  CsBsar,  or  not  ?  shall  we 
give,  or  shall  we  not  give  ?  But  he  knowing  their  wicked- 
ness, craftiness,  and  hypocrisy,  said  unto  them,  Why 
tempt  ye  me,  ye  hypocrites  ?  show  me  the  tribute-money, 
that  I  may  see  it.  And  they  brought  unto  him  a  penny. 
And  he  saith  unto  them,  Whose  is  this  image  and  super- 
scription ?  And  they  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
Caesar's.  Then  saith  he  unto  them,  Render  therefore 
unto  Caesar  the  things  which  are  Caesar's  ;  and  unto  God 
the  things  that  are  God's.  And  they  could  not  take  hold 
of  his  words  before  the  people  :  and  they  marvelled  at 
his  answer,  held  their  peace,  left  him,  and  went  their 
way. 


FOUR    GO:«PKLS.  3Ul 

Again  does  our  Lord  renew  the  repeated  lessons  he  had  before 
given  us,  both  by  precept  and  example,  of  uniting  iinsdom  and  in- 
nocence. How  admirable  was  this  inixluie  of  prudence  and  inte- 
grity with  which  he  confounded  these  Pharisees  and  Herodians, 
who,  contrary  as  their  principles  and  interests  were,  conspired 
against  him  !  For  of  a  truth,  O  Loid,  against  thine  Holy  Child 
Jesus,  both  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate,  and  the  people  of  Israel 
were  gathered  together,  (Acts  iv.  27;)  and  their  tvords 'were 
softer  than  oil,  when  war  and  murder  was  in  their  hearts.  (Ps. 
Iv.  21.) 

Let  us  not,  with  the  simple,  believe  every  flattering  word,  (Pro v. 
xiv.  15.) since  sometimes  the  highest  encomiums  maybe  designed 
as  the  instruments  of  mischief :  and  too  often  they  prove  so  when 
they  are  not  treacherously  intended. 

Our  Lord  was  indeed  the  Person  whom  these  artful  hypocrites 
described ;  and  was  in  that  respect  an  excellent  Pattern  lo  all  his 
followers,  and  especially  to  his  ministers.  He  knew  no  man  in 
the  discharge  of  his  office  ;  but,  without  regarding  the  persons  of 
any,  neither  seeking  their  favour  nor  fearing  their  resentment,  he 
taught  the  way  of  God  in  truth,  and  declared  the  whole  of  his 
counsel. 

Let  us  particularly  attend  to  his  decision  in  the  present  case, 
and  learn  with  the  utmost  readiness  to  render  unto  Coesar  the 
things  which  are  Ccesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  irhich  are 
God's.  Our  civil  magistiates,  by  virtue  of  their  office,  justly 
claim  our  reverent  regard  ;  and  tribute  is  most  reasonably  due  to 
those  who  attend  continually  to  the  service  of  the  public,  and 
are,  under  God,  the  pillars  of  our  common  tranquillity  and  happi- 
ness. (Rom.  xiii.  6,  7.)  Let  that  tribute  therefore  be  justly  and 
freely  rendered  with  honour,  and  with  cheerfulness  ;  as  he  is 
surely  unworthy  to  share  in  the  benefits  of  government,  who  will 
not  contribute  his  part  towards  its  necessary  expense.  But  let  it 
also  be  remembered  that  the  rights  of  God  are  sacred  and  invio- 
late :  he,  and  he  alone,  is  the  Lord  of  conscience ;  and  when  that 
is  invaded,  it  is  easy  to  judge  whether  man  or  God  is  to  be  obey- 
ed; (Acts  iv.  19.)  Let  us  be  daily  thankful  that  in  our  own  age 
and  country  these  rights  are  so  happily  united.  May^a  guardian 
Providence  continue  to  watch  over  both !  and  may  we  seriously 
consider  how  impossible  it  is,  under  such  a  government,  to  be 
good  Christians,  without  being  obedient  subjects,  or  lo  fear  God, 
if  we  do  not  honour  the  king.'     (1  Pet.  ii   17. ) 


27 


302  HARMONY    OF    THE 


SECTION  LXXIII. 

Matthew  XXII.  23— 33.      Mark  xir.  18 — 27. 
Luke  xx.  27 — 40. 

The  same  day  came  to  him  certain  of  the  Sadducees, 
which  say  that  there  is  no  resurrection  ;  and  they  asked 
him,  saying,  Master,  Moses  wrote  unto  us.  If  any  man's 
brother  die  and  leave  Ms  wife  behind  him,  and  leave  no 
children,  that  his  brother  should  take  his  wife,  and  raise 
up  seed  unto  his  brother.  Now  there  were  with  us  seven 
brethren  :  and  the  first,  when  he  had  married  a  wife, 
deceased,  and  having  no  issue,  left  his  wife  unto  his 
brother  :  and  the  second  took  her  to  wife,  and  he  died 
childless :  and  the  third  took  her  likewise  ;  and  in  like 
manner  the  seven  also  had  her  ;  and  they  left  no  children, 
and  died  :  and  last  of  all  the  woman  died  also.  In  the 
resurrection  therefore,  when  they  shall  rise,  whose  wife 
shall  she  be  of  the  seven  ?  for  they  all  had  her  to  wife. 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Do  ye  not  therefore 
err,  because  ye  know  not  the  scriptures,  neither  the 
power  of  God  ?  The  children  of  this  world  marry,  and 
are  given  in  marriage  :  but  they  which  shall  be  account- 
ed worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  and  the  resurrection 
from  the  dead,  when  they  shall  rise  from  the  dead,  they 
neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage  ;  neither  can 
they  die  any  more  ;  for  they  are  like  the  angels  which 
are  in  heaven  ;  and  are  the  children  of  God,  being  the 
children  of  the  ressurrection.  And  as  touching  the  re- 
surrection of  the  dead,  that  the  dead  are  raised,  even 
Moses  shewed.  Have  ye  not  read  in  the  book  of  Moses, 
how  in  the  bush  God  spake  unto  him  saying,  I  am  the 
God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of 
Jacob  ?  for  God  is  not  a  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the 
living  :  for  all  live  unto  him.  Ye  therefore  do  greatly 
err.  And  when  the  multitude  heard  this,  they  were  as- 
tonished at  his  doctrine.     Then  certain  of  the  Scribes 


POUR  GOSPKLS.  303 

answering  said,  Master,  thou  hast  well  said.      And  after 
that  they  durst  not  ask  him  any  question  at  all. 

With  what  satisfaction  should  we  read  this  vindication  of  so 
important  ati  article  of  our  faith  and  hope  I  Easily  was  this 
boasted  argument  of  the  Saddiccees-  unravelled  and  exposed,  and 
all  the  pride  of  those  bold  wits,  who  valued  themselves  so  much 
on  that  imaginary  penetration  which  laid  men  almost  on  a  level 
with  brutes,  covered  with  just  confusion.  Indeed  objections 
against  the  resurrection,  much  more  plausible  than  this  of 
theirs,  may  be  answered  in  that  one  saying  of  our  Lord's:  Ye 
knoiv  not  the  scriptures,  nor  the  poiver  of  God.  Were  the  scrip- 
ture doctrine  of  the  resurrection  considered  on  the  one  hand,  and 
the  omnipotence  of  the  Creator  on  the  other,  it  could  not  seem 
incredible  to  any  thai  God  should  raise  the  dead.  (Acts  xxvi.  8.) 

How  sublime  an  idea  does  our  Land^ixe  us  of  the  happiness 
of  those  who  shall  be  thought  worthy  to  attain  it !  Thty  shall 
be  equal  to  the  angels  1  Adored  be  the  riches  of  that  grace 
which  redeems  us  from  this  degenerate  and  miserable  state,  ia 
which  we  had  made  ourselves  so  much  like  the  beasts  that  perish, 
(Psalm  xlix.  12,)  to  raise  us  to  so  high  a  dignify,  and  marshal 
us  with  the  armies  of  heaven  I 

Let  us  esteem  so  glorious  a  hope  aright,  and  with  the  great- 
est intenseness  of  soul  pursue  and  insure  it.  And  as  for  those 
enjoynvnts  of  this  present  world,  which  are  suited  only  to  the 
mortality  and  imperfection  ol  it,  let  us  moderate  our  regards  to 
them,  and  cultivate  tho;e  higher  entertainments  v/ith  the  most 
solicitous  care,  which  will  be  transplanted  into  the  paradise  of 
God,  and  ever  flourish  lor  the  delight  of  his  immortal  children. 

Christ,  we  see,  argues  a  very  important  point  of  doctrine  from 
premises,  in  which,  perhaps,  we  might  not  have  been  able  to 
have  discovered  it  without  such  a  hint.  Let  us  learn  to  judge 
of  scripture  arguments,  not  merely  by  the  sound,  but  by  the 
sense  of  the  words.  And  as  our  Lord  chose  a  j)assage  from  the 
Pentateuch,  rather  than  from  the  prophets,  for  the  conviction  of 
the  Sadducees,  let  us  be  engaged  to  study  the  tempers,  and  even 
the  prejudices,  of  those  with  whom  we  converse;  that  we  may, 
if  possible,  let  in  the  light  of  Divine  truth  on  their  hearts  on 
that  side  by  which  they  seem  most  capable  of  receiving  it. 

In  a  word,  let  us  with  pleasure  think  of  the  blessed  God  un- 
der ih&i  gracious  title  by  which  he  manifested  himself  to  Moses 
at  the  bush.  Still  he  is  the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac, 
and  the  God  of  Jacob ;  the  God  of  our  pious  ancestors,  the  God 
of  all  our  departed  friends  who  are  now  sleeping  in  Jesus:  for 
all  their  souls  now  liveunto  him,  and  their  bodies  shall  ere  long 
be  awakeaed  by  him.     In  like  manner,  if  vje  are  followers  of 


304  H APHONY    OF    THE 

tktiii  who  through  faith  and  patience  are  now  inheriting  the  pro- 
mises^ when  we  are  gathered  to  our  fathers^  and  our  names,  per- 
haps, forgotten  among  succeeding  generations,  he  will  still  be 
our  God.  He  will  shew  us,  by  the  blessed  experience  of  eter- 
nity, that  when  he  treated  with  us  by  that  title,  and  admitted 
Ui  into  the  covenant  by  which  he  bears  it,  he  intended  for  us 
something  far  nobler  and  better  than  the  transient  scenes  of 
earth  and  of  time  could  admit. 


SECTION  LXXIV. 

Matthew  xxii.  34 — 40.     Mark  xii.  28 — 34. 

But  when  the  Pharisees  had  heard  that  he  had  put  the 
Sadducees  to  silence,  they  also  were  gathered  together. 
And  one  of  them,  which  was  a  lawyer,  came,  and  having 
heard  them  reasoning  together,  and  perceiving  that  he  had 
answered  them  well,  asked  him  a  question,  tempting  him, 
and  saying,  Master,  which  is  the  first  and  the  great  com- 
mandment of  all  in  the  law  ?  Jesus  answered  him,  and 
said  unto  him.  The  first  of  all  the  commandments  is, 
Hear,  O  Israel  :  the  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord  ;  and 
thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and 
with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy 
strength:  This  is  the  first  and  great  commandment. 
And  the  second  is  like  unto  it,  namely  this,  Thou  shalt 
love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  There  is  none  other  corn- 
numdment  greater  than  these.  On  these  two  command- 
ments hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets.  And  the 
Scribe  said  unto  him,  Well,  Master,  thou  hast  said  the 
truth :  for  there  is  one  God  ;  and  there  is  none  other 
but  he  :  and  to  love  iiim  with  all  the  heart,  and  with  all 
the  understanding,  and  with  all  the  soul,  and  with  all  the 
strength,  and  to  lovo  his  neighbour  as  himself,  is  more 
than  all  the  whole  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices.  And 
when  Jesus  saw  that  he  answered  discreetly,  he  said  unto 
him,  Thou  art  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.  And 
no  man  after  that  durst  ask  him  any  question. 


POUR    GOSPELS.  305 

Whatever  might  be  the  design  of  the  Scribe  in  putting  this 
queslion  to  Christ  again,  which  was  in  effect  the  same  with 
what  another  had  proposed  before,  (Luke  x.  25,  sect,  cvii.)  we 
have  reason  to  lejoice  in  the  repetition  of  so  important  an  an- 
swer. Oh  that  it  might  be  inscribed  on  our  hearts  as  with  the 
point  of  a  diamond  I 

Thejirst  and  great  commandment  requires  us  to  love  the  Lord 
our  God  with  all  our  heart,  and  soul^  and  mind,  and  strtngth  ; 
and  the  second,  which  islikeunto  it,  to  love  oiir  neighbour  as  our- 
selves. But  alas,  what  reason  have  we  to  complain  ct  our  own 
deficiency  on  both  these  heads!  and  how  much  need  of  being 
tauglit  again  even  these  Jirst  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God  7 
(Heb.  V.  12.) 

Can  we  say,  with  regard  to  thejirst,  that  the  blessed  God  has 
the  whole  of  our  hearts?  Is  the  utmost  vigour  of  our  faculties 
exerted  in  his  service  ^  Do  we  make  him  the  end  of  all  our 
actions,  of  all  our  wishes,  of  all  our  pursuits?  Or  are  we  in- 
deed such  equitable  judges  between  ourselves  and  others  as /Ac 
second  of  these  great  commandments  would  require ;  so  as  to 
seek  our  own  parlicular  interests  no  farther  than  they  may  be 
subservient  to,  or  at  least  consistent  with,  the  good  of  the 
whole?  Do  we  make  all  those  allowances  for  others  which  we 
expect  or  desire  they  should  make  for  us? — Surely  we  must 
own  we  are  far  from  having  ytt  attained,  or  from  being  already 
perfect.  (Phil.  iii.  12  )  But  if  this  be  not  in  the  main  the  pre- 
vailing and  governing  temper  of  our  minds,  in  vain  are  our 
burnt-offerings  and  our  sacrifices;  in  vain  are  all  the  solemni- 
ties of  public  worship,  or  the  forms  of  domestic  and  secret  de- 
votion ;  and  by  all  our  most  pathetic  expressions  of  duty  to 
God,  and  friendship  (o  meu.  we  do  but  add  one  degree  of  guilt 
to  another.  Let  us  then  most  earnestly  entreat  that  God  would 
have  mercy  upon  us,  and  by  his  Holy  Spirit  write  these  laws  in 
our  hearts. 

On  these  snbjccts  let  Scribes  instructed  to  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven insist,  lest  they  be  condemned  by  this  expositor  of  the  Jew- 
ish law.  And  let  those  whose  notions  are  thus  wisely  regulated, 
take  heed,  lest,  while  they  seem  near  to  the  kingdom  of  God, 
by  resting  in  mere  notions,  they  come  short  of  it,  and  sink  into 
a  ruin  aggravated  by  their  near  approach  to  the  confines  of 
salvation  and  glory. 


27* 


306  IIARMOXY    OF    THE 


SECTION  LXXV. 

Matt.  xxii.  41 — 46.     Mark  xu.  35 — 40.     Luke  xx. 

41—47. 

While  the  Pharisees  were  gathered  together,  Jesus 
asked  them,  while  he  taught  in  the  temple.  How  say  the 
Scribes  that  Christ  is  the  .son  of  David  ?  What  think  ye 
of  Christ  ?  whose  son  is  he  ?  They  say  unto  him,  The 
son  of  David.  He  saith  unto  them.  How  then  doth 
David  in  spirit  call  him,  in  the  book  of  Psalms,  Lord  ; 
saying  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord, 
Sit  thou  on  my  right  hand,  till  I  make  thine  enemies  thy 
footstool  ?  David  therefore  himself  calleth  him  Lord  : 
If  David  then  call  him  Lord,  how  is  he  his  son  ?  And 
lio  man  was  able  to  answer  him  a  word,  neither  durst 
any  man  frorn  that  day  forth  ask  him  any  more  questions. 
And  the  common  people  heard  him  gladly. 

Then  in  the  audience  of  all  the  people  he  said  unto 
his  disciples,  in  his  doctrine,  Beware  of  the  Scribes, 
which  love  to  walk  in  long  robes,  and  love  salutations 
in  the  market-places,  and  the  highest  seats  in  the  syna- 
gogues, and  the  uppermost  rooms  at  feasts ;  which  de- 
vour widow's  houses,  and  for  a  pretence  make  long 
prayers  :  the  same  shall  receive  greater  damnation. 

As  for  that  question  of  Christ  with  which  the  Pharisees  were 
perplexed,  the  gospel  has  given  us  a  key  to  it.  Well  might 
David  in  spirits,  call  him  Lord.,  who  according  to  the  flesh  was 
to  descend  from  his  loins:  for  before  David  or  Abraham  was,  he 
is.  (John  viii.  58.)  Let  us  adore  this  mysterious  union  of  the 
Divine  and  human  natures  in  the  person  of  our  glorious  Em- 
manud ;  and  be  very  careful  that  we  do  not  oppose  him,  if  we 
would  not  be  iowx^d. Jig] iters  against  God.  Already  is  he  exalted 
at  the  rigid  hand  of  the  Father ;  let  his  friends  rejoice  in  his 
dignity  and  glory,  and  with  pleasure  wait  the  day  of  his  com- 
plete triumph,  vfhen  all  his  enemies  shall  be  put  under  his  feet, 
arid  even  the  last  of  them  be  swallowed  up  in  victory.  (1  Cor. 
XV.  25, 54.) 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  307 


SECTION  LXXVI 

Mark  XII.  41 — 44.     Luke  xxi.  1 — 4. 
John  xii.  37—43. 

And  Jesus  sat  over  against  the  treasury,  and  he  looked 
up,  and  beheld  how  the  people  cast  money  into  the 
treasury  :  and  many  that  were  rich  cast  in  much.  And 
he  saw  also  a  certain  poor  widow,  and  she  threw  in  two 
mites,  which  make  a  farthing.  And  he  called  unto 
him  his  disciples,  and  saith  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  that  this  poor  widow  hath  cast  more  in,  than  all 
they  which  have  cast  into  the  treasury  :  For  all  these 
have  of  their  abundance  cast  in  unto  the  ofl'eiings  of 
God  :  but  she  of  her  penury  did  cast  in  all  that  she  had, 
erten  all  her  living. 

But  though  he  had  done  so  many  miracles  before 
them,  Yet  they  believed  not  on  him  ;  that  the  saying  of 
Esaias  the  prophet  might  be  fulfilled,  whicli  he  spake. 
Lord,  who  hath  believed  our  report  ?  and  to  whom  hath 
the  arm  of  the  Lord  been  revealed  ?  Therefore  they 
could  not  believe  that  Esaias  said  again.  He  hath  blind- 
ed their  eyes,  and  hardened  their  heart  ;  that  they 
should  not  see  with  iheir  eyes,  nor  understand  witii 
their  heart,  and  be  converted,  and  T  should  heal  them. 
These  things  said  Esaias,  when  he  saw  his  glory,  and 
spake  of  him.  Nevertheless  among  the  chief  rulers 
also  many  believed  on  him  ;  but  because  of  the  Phari- 
sees they  did  not  confess  him,  lest  they  should  be  put 
out  of  the  synagogue  :  for  they  loved  the  praise  of  men 
more  than  the  praise  of  God. 

Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  h.nd  Iiis  eye  on  those  who  were  bring- 
ing their  gifts  unto  the  sacred  treasury.  Let  us  remember  his 
eye  is  also  upon  us,  to  observe  in  what  degree  we  are  ready,  on 
proper  occasions,  to  contribute  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
good  of  mankind;  and  in  what  proportion  to  the  ability  which 
God  has  given  us.  Let  not  the  poorest  be  discouraged  from 
doing  something  for  these  good  purposes,  however  little  they 


308  HARMONY    OF    THE 

may  have  it  in  their  power  to  perform  ;  since  Christ  may  ac- 
knowledge the  noblest  charity  in  the  smallest  gift,  as  wherever 
there  is  a  willing  mind^  it  is  accepted  according  to  what  a  man 
hath,  and  not  according  to  what  he  hath  not.     (2  Cor.  viii.  12.) 

Let  us  imitate  the  candour  of  our  blessed  Redeemer ;  and  be 
ready  to  be  pleased  with  little  services.  The  circumstances  of 
mankind  are  such,  that  few  have  it  in  their  power  to  do  great 
matters  frequently  for  the  service  of  others  :  but  the  desire  of  a 
man  is  his  kindness^  (Prov.  xix.  22.)  the  principles  and  circum- 
stances of  an  action  recommend  it  more  than  the  appearance  it 
may  make;  and  a  multiplicity  of  little  kind  offices,  in  persons 
frequently  conversant  with  each  other,  are  the  bands  of  society 
and  friendship.  We  ought  therefore  to  preserve  an  habitual 
tenderness  and  generosity  of  mind,  and  be  mutually  willing  to 
oblige  and  to  be  obliged  by  them. 

To  conclude;  let  us  notdespise  the  poor  ^  since  there  are  many 
of  them  who  will  in  Christh  computation  be  found  eminently 
rich  in  good  works ;  many  whose  mile  will,  in  the  treasury  of 
God,  have  the  value  of  a  talent,  and  will  condemn  the  sordid 
parsimony  with  which  many  of  the  rich  and  great  have  cast 
their  presents  into  it :  while  what  the  latter  part  with  out  of 
their  abundance  bears  no  proportion  in  the  account  of  God  to 
what  the  former  freely  spare  froin  their  necessity.  Happy  is  it 
for  every  truly  pious  and  benevolent  mind  that  it  is  to  give  up 
its  final  account  to  him  tcho  searches  the  heart,  and  who  is  wit- 
ness to  those  devout  and  charitable  purposes  which  will  always 
stretch  themselves  out  beyond  the  limit  of  actions,  and  engage 
the  charitable  «oul  to  wish  more  good  than  the  power  and  re- 
venues even  of  kingdoms  could  effect. 

How  evidently  necessary  is  the  operation  of  Divine  grace  to 
conquer  the  prejudices  of  a  sinful  heart ;  since  even  the  preach- 
ing of  Christ  himself,  enforced  by  all  his  stupendous  miraclesy 
could  not  overcome  those  prejudices  without  it!  And  how 
cautious  should  sinners  be  that  they  do  not  stop  their  ears  to 
the  joyful  sound  of  the  gospel,  and  shut  their  eyes  against  its 
glorious  light;  lest  God  should  leave  them  to  their  own  delu- 
sions,  and  in  his  righteous  judgment  seal  them  up  under  final 
blindness  and  impenitence  !  Then  will  they  never  be  converted 
and  healed;  but  die  with  that  poison  in  all  the  faculties  of  their 
souls,  which  will  make  them  for  ever  restless  and  miserable. 

Can  we  find  words  sufficient  to  express  the  madness  of  these 
Pharisees,  y^ho,  while  they  were  in  their  consciences  convinced 
that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  would  not  confess  that  conviction,  and 
publicly  pay  their  homage  to  him,  because  they  loved  the  praise 
of  men  more  than  the  praise  of  God?  Strange  infatuation  of 
the  human  mind  !  that  it  should  be  capable  of  believing  there 
is  a  God,  and  yet  of  preferring  the  creatures  before  him :  and 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  309 

should  sometimes  imagine  the  vain  breath  of  popular  applause 
or  po{)ular  censure  so  considerable,  as  that  God  should  be  of- 
fended to  please  man  ;  and  all  the  honours  anil  rewards  of  his 
heavenly  presence  lost,  to  secure  a  little  regard  from  those  who 
art;  perishing  in  their  crimes,  and  will  ere  long  be  themselves 
the  objects  of  everlasting  shamt  and  contempt. 

<      Joins  XII.  44 — 50. 

But  Jesus  cried  and  said,  He  that  believeth  on  me. 
believeth  not  on  me,  but  on  him  that  sent  me.  And  he 
that  seeth  me  seeth  him  that  sent  me.  I  am  come  a 
light  into  the  world,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  me 
should  not  abide  in  darkness.  And  if  any  man  hear 
my  words,  and  believe  not,  I  judge  him  not :  for  I  came 
not  to  judge  the  world,  but  to  save  the  world.  He  tliat 
rejecteih  me,  and  receiveth  not  my  words,  hath  one 
that  judgeth  him  :  the  word  that  I  have  spoken,  the 
same  shall  judge  him  in  the  last  day.  For  I  have  not 
si)oken  of  myself;  but  the  Father  which  sent  me,  he 
gave  me  a  commandment,  what  I  should  say,  and  what 
I  should  speak.  And  1  know  that  his  commandment  is 
life  everlasting  :  whatsoever  I  speak  therefore,  even  as 
the  Father  said  unto  me,  so  I  speak. 

Mo.«t  important  is  that  proclamation  which  our  Lord  made  in 
the  temple,  and  is  still  making  to  us  in  his  word :  believing  in 
him^  we  believe  in  the  Father  ;  and  seeing  him,  we  see  the  Father. 
Let  us  be  ready  theiefore  to  receive  him  out  of  regard  to  his  Di- 
vine authority,  as  well  as  with  a  view  to  our  own  happiness  ;  for 
without  him  we  can  have  no  access  unto  the  Father,  nor  crin  we 
ever  see  him  as  a  reconciled  God. — The  sacred  light  which  he 
diffhses  around  him  is  not  intended  merely  to  amuse  our  eyes 
with  pleasing  speculations,  but  to  animate  our  hearts  with  holy  af- 
fections, and  to  guide  our  feet  into  the  ivay  of  peace.  (Luke  i. 
79.)  If  we  desire  therefore  to  escape  an  abode  in  eternal  dark- 
ness, and  to  see  light  everlasting;,  let  us  faithfully  follow  him : 
otherwise  we  are  condemned  already,  and  that  word  which  he 
spake  will  become  to  us  a  savour  of  death  unto  death,  (2  Cor.  ii. 
16,)  and  \\\\\  judge  us  in  the  last  solenm  and  dreadful  day,  when 
it  shall  sentence  those  who  would  not  be  saved  by  it. 

Let  us  now  make  that  word  the  rule  of  our  life  which  shall  then 
be  rule  of  our  judgment.     We  may  most  comfortably  venture  our 


310  HAKMONY    OF    THE 

eternal  all  on  the  exact  veracity  of  it.  Christ  has  perfectly  fulfil- 
led the  commission  he  received  from  his  Father^  as  one  that  was 
faithful  to  him  that  appointed  him  ;  and  stands  so  completely 
approved  in  his  sight,  that  our  only  hope  is  that  we  also  may  be 
accepted  in  him,  and  find  mercy  and  grace  for  his  sake. 


SECTION  LXXVII. 

Matt,  xxiii.  1—30. 

Then  spake  Jesus  to  the  multitude,  and  to  his  disciples, 
saying,  The  Scribes  and  the  Pharisees  sit  in  Moses' 
seat:  All  therefore  whatsoever  they  bid  you  observe, 
that  observe  and  do  ;  but  do  not  ye  after  their  works  : 
for  they  say.  and  do  not.  For  they  bind  heavy  burdens- 
and  grievous  to  be  borne,  and  lay  them  on  men's 
shoulders,  but  they  themselves  will  not  move  them  with 
one  of  their  fingers.  But  all  their  works  they  do  for 
to  be  seen  of  men.  They  make  broad  their  phylac- 
teries, and  enlarge  the  borders  of  their  garments,  and 
love  the  uppermost  rooms  at  feasts,  and  the  chief  seats 
in  the  synagogues,  and  greetings  in  the  markets,  and  to 
be  called  of  men,  Rabbi,  Rabbi. 

But  be  not  ye  called  Rabbi,  for  one  is  your  Master, 
even  Christ  ;  and  all  ye  are  brethren.  And  call  no  man 
your  father  upon  the  earth  :  for  one  is  your  Father, 
which  is  in  heaven.  Neither  be  ye  called  masters  :  for 
one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ.  But  he  that  is  great- 
est among  you  shall  be  your  servant.  And  whosoever 
shall  exalt  himself  shall  be  abased  ;  and  he  that  shall 
humble  himself  shall  be  exalted. 

But  woe  unto  you,  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  ! 
for  ye  shut  up  the  kingdom  of  heaven  against  men  :  for 
ye  neither  go  in  yourselves,  neither  suffer  ye  them  that 
are  entering  to  go  in. 

Woe  unto  you.  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  ! 
for  ye  devour  widows'  houses  and  for  a  pretence  make 
long  prayers  :  therefore  ye  shall  receive  the  greater 
damnation. 


POUR    GOSPELS.  31  i 

Woe  unto  you,  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  ! 
for  ye  compass  sea  and  land  to  make  one  proselyte,  and 
when  he  is  made,  ye  make  him  twofold  more  the  child 
of  hell  than  yourselves. 

Woe  unto  you,  ye  blind  guides,  which  say,  whosoever 
shall  swear  by  the  temple,  it  is  nothing  ;  but  whosoever 
shall  swear  by  the  gold  of  the  temple,  he  is  a  debtor, 
ye  fools  and  blind  :  for  whether  is  greater,  the  gold,  or 
the  temple  that  sanctifieth  the  gold  ?  And  whosoever 
shall  swear  by  the  altar,  it  is  nothing  ;  but  whosoever 
sweareth  by  the  gift  that  is  upon  it,  he  is  guilty.  Ye 
fools  and  blind  :  for  whether  is  greater,  the  gift,  or  the 
altar  that  sanctifieth  the  gift  ?  Whoso  therefore  shall 
swear  by  the  altar,  sweareth  by  it,  and  by  all  things  there- 
on. And  whoso  shall  swear  by  the  temple,  sweareth  by 
it,  and  by  him  that  dwelleth  therein.  And  he  that  shall 
swear  by  heaven,  sweareth  by  the  throne  of  God,  and 
by  him  that  sitteth  thereon. 


As  an  ear-rinz  of  gold,  and  an  ornament  of  fine  gold,  so  is  a 
wise  rep  I  over  upon  an  obedient  ear.  (Prov.  xxv,  12.)  Christ 
was  indeed  a  wise  and  faithful  Reprover  ;  but  the  ears  of  these 
Pharisees  were  disobedient  and  uncircumcised.  Let  us,  how- 
ever, who  are  his  disciples,  attend  to  these  instructions  of  our 
heavenly  Master,  and  avoid  every  thinq  which  has  the  remotest 
tendency  to  what  he  here  condemn?  with  so  just  a  severity 

Let  not  our  zeal  spend  itself  upon  the  'xternals  of  relif^ion. 
Let  us  not  impose  heavy  burdens  upon  each  other;  nor  lay  down 
rules  for  the  conduct  ot  others,  by  which  we  do  not  in  lilve  cir- 
cumstances think  fit  to  govern  ourselves.  Let  us  not  impose  our 
oviXi  decisions  in  a  magisterial  manner  on  ouv  J e How  Christians, 
nor  affect  to  be  called  fathers ,  masters,  and  teachers  ;  remember- 
ing that  Christ  alone  is  our  Master,  and  God  our  Father,  and 
that  it  is  adangeious  presumption  and  folly  to  set  ourselves  in  the 
place  of  either.  Let  us  be  upon  our  guard  against  that  vain  os- 
tentation that  woul!  lead  us  to  place  any  part  of  our  happiness  in 
precedence,  and  to  valua  ourselves  upon  our  rank,  or  upon  any 
airy  titles  of  honour,  by  which,  perhaps  rather  by  accident  than 
merit,  we  are  distinguished  from  others ;  and  which  to  a  truly  wise 
man,  and  especially  to  a  humble  follower  of  Jesus,  will  appear  to 
be  a  very  little  matter.  Let  us  desire  that  honour  which  arises 
from  condescending  to  others,  and  serving  them  in  love  ;  that  ho^ 


^12  HARMONY    OF    THE 

nour  which  springs  from  the  Divine  approbation,  which  it  will  be 
impossible  to  sectire  without  unaffected  piety.  (John  v.  44.) 

God  torbid  that  om  devotions  should  ever  be  intended  as  a  cloak 
of  malicousness ,  or  as  the  instrument  of  serving  any  mean  and 
vile  purpose  !  Such  prayers  would  return  in  curses  on  our  own 
head=»,  and  -Iraw  down  on  them  aggravated  damnation.  God  for- 
bid ihat  we  should  spend  that  time,  and  that  ardency  of  spiiit,  in 
making  proselytes  to  our  own  peculiar  notions  and  party,  which 
ought  to  be  laid  out  in  making  them  the  servants  of  God  through 
Christ  !  God  forbid  that  we  should  delude  ourselves  or  others  by 
such  idle  distinctions  in  matters  of  conscience,  as  these  which  our 
blessed  Redeemer  has  with  so  much  reason  and  spirit  exposed ! 

Let  us  retain  the  gieatest  reverence  for  an  oath,  and  not  accus- 
tom ourselves  to  trific  with  any  thing  which  looks  like  it.  Let 
us  consider  heaven  as  the  throne  of  God,  and  often  think  of  the 
majesty  and  glory  of  that  illustrious  Being  that  sits  thereon  ;  for  a 
sense  of  his  continual  presence  will  form  us  to  a  better  temper, 
and  engage  us  with  a  righteousness  far  exceeding  that  of  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees,  to  walk  before  him  in  all  his  command- 
ments and  ordinances  blameless. 


SECTION  LXXVIII. 

Matthew  xxiii.  23 — 39. 

Woe  unlo  you,  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  !  for 
ye  pay  tithe  of  mint  and  anise  and  cummin,  and  have 
omitted  the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  judgment,  mer- 
cy, and  faith  :  these  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to 
leave  the  other  undone.  Ye  blind  guides,  which  strain 
at  a  gnat,  and  swallow  a  camel. 

Woe  unto  you.  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  ! 
for  ye  make  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup  and  of  the  plat- 
ter, but  within  they  are  full  of  extortion  and  excess. 
Thou  blind  PJiarisee,  cleanse  first  that  ivhich  is  within 
the  cup  and  platter,  that  the  outside  of  them  may  be 
clean  also. 

Woe  unto  you  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites ! 
for  ye  are  like  unto  whited  sepulchres,  which  indeed  ap- 
pear beautiful  outward,  but  are  within  full  of  dead  men's 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  Sl3 

bones,  and  of  all  uncleanness.  Even  so  ye  also  out- 
wardly appear  righteous  unto  men,  but  within  ye  are  full 
of  hypocrisy  and  iniquity. 

Woe  unto  you  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites  !  be- 
cause ye  build  the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  and  garnish 
the  sepulchres  of  the  righteous,  and  say,  If  we  had  beeu 
in  the  days  of  our  fathers,  we  would  not  have  been  par- 
takers with  them  in  the  blood  of  the  prophets.  Where- 
fore ye  be  witnesses  unto  yourselves,  that  ye  are  the 
children  of  them  which  killed  the  prophets.  Fill  ye  up 
then  the  measure  of  your  fathers.  Ye  serpents,  ye  gen- 
eration of  vipers,  how  can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of 
hell? 

Wherefore,  behold,  I  send  unto  you  prophets,  and  wise 
men,  and  scribes  :  and  sotne  of  them  ye  shall  kill  and 
crucify  ;  and  sotne  of  them  shall  ye  scourge  in  your 
synagogues,  and  persecute  them  from  city  to  city  :  thai 
upon  you  may  come  all  the  righteous  blood  shed  upon 
the  earth,  from  the  blood  of  righteous  Abel  unto  the 
blood  of  Zacharias  son  of  Barachias,  whom  ye  slew  be- 
tween the  temple  and  the  altar.  Verily  I  say  unto  you, 
All  these  things  shall  come  upon  this  generation. 

O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou  that  kiliest  the  pro- 
phets, and  stonest  them  which  are  sent  unto  thee,  how 
often  would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even 
as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye 
would  not  !  Behold,  your  house  is  left  unto  you  deso- 
late. For  I  say  unto  you,  ye  shall  not  see  me  henceforth, 
till  ye  shall  say.  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord. 

May  we  ever  remember  how  necessary  it  is  that  our  righteous- 
ness should  exceed  that  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  if  we  desire 
to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven!  (Matt.  v.  20.)  May  our 
zeal  be  employed  oii  the  great  essentials  of  religion,  justice,  mercy, 
and  fidelity,  and  not  be  laid  out  merely  or  chiefly  on  the  circum- 
stantials of  it ! 

May  we  be  concerned  about  the  purity  of  our  hearts,  and  not 
merely  attend  to  the  decency  of  our  external  behaviour .'  May  we 
be,  not  like  painted  sepulchres,  fair  and  beautiful  without,  and 
full  of  all  uncleanness  within;  but  rather  like  the  vessel  laid  up 

28 


314  HARMOIN'Y    OF    THE 

before  the  Lord,  whose  outside  shone  with  polished  gold,  while 
within  it  was  replenished  with  heavenly  manna!  (Heb.  ix.  4.) 

How  many,  like  these  Pharisees,  condemn  persecution,  and 
yet  themselves  are  chargeable  with  the  guilt  of  it!  May  that 
never  be  our  character,  lest  we  be  judged  out  of  our  own  mouths, 
and  lest  we  thereby ^W  tip  the  measure  of  our  iniquities  ! 

Behold  the  repeated  tenderness  of  our  compassionate  Re- 
deemer even  towards  that  guilty  city  that  killed,  the  prophets,  and 
stoned  the  messengers  of  God!  He  loould  with  the  gentlest  and 
most  solicitous  care  have  gathered  them,  even  as  a  hen  gathers 
her  chickens  under  her  wings!  Thus  does  he  still  call  and  invite 
perishing  sinners.  O  that  the  obstinacy  of  their  own  perverse 
and  rebellious  wills  may  not  finally  withstand  all  the  overtures  of 
his  grace ;  lest  eternal  desolation  be  their  portion,  and  they  in  vain 
wish,  for  the  repetition  of  those  calls  which  they  once  so  wan- 
tonly despised ! 


SECTION  LXXIX. 

Matt.  xxiv.   1 — ^14.     Mark  xiii.   1 — 13. 
Luke  xxi.  5 — 19. 

And  Jesus  went  out,  and  departed  from  the  temple  : 
and  his  disciples  came  to  him  to  shew  him  the  buildings 
of  the  temple  ;  and  some  spake,  how  it  was  adorned  with 
goodly  stones  and  gifts  ;  and  one  of  his  disciples  saith 
unto  him,  Master,  see  what  manner  of  stones  and  what 
buildings  are  here  !  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him, 
See  ye  not  all  these  things  ?  these  great  buildings  ?  Ve- 
rily I  say  unto  you,  as  for  these  things  which  ye  behold, 
tile  days  will  come,  in  the  which  there  shall  not  be  left 
here  one  stone  upon  another,  that  shall  not  be  thrown 
down. 

And  as  he  sat  upon  the  mount  of  Olives  over  against 
the  temple,  the  disciples  Peter  and  James  and  John  and 
Andrew  came  unto  him  privately,  and  asked  him,  saying, 
JNIaster,  but  tell  us,  when  shall  these  things  be  ?  and 
what  shall  be  the  sign  of  thy  coming  and  of  the  end  of 
the  world  ? 


FOUR   GOSPELS.  315 

And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Take  heed 
that  no  man  deceive  you.     For  many  shall  come  in  my 
name,  saying  I  am  Christ;  and  the  time  draweth  near  ; 
and  shall  deceive  many  :  go  ye  not  therefore  after  them. 
And  ye  shall  hear  of  wars,  and  rumors  of  wars.     And 
when  ye  shall  hear  of  wars,  and  rumors  of  wars,  and 
commotions,  see  that  ye  be  not  terrified,  and  troubled : 
for  all  these  things  must  first  come  to  pass  ;  but  the  end 
shall  not  be  yet.     Then  said  he  unto  them,  Nation  shall 
rise  against  nation,  and  kingdom  against  kingdom  :  and 
great  earthquakes  shall  be  in  divers  places  ;  and  there 
shall  be  famines,  and  pestilences,  and  troubles,  and  fear- 
ful sights  ;  and  great  signs  shall  there  be  from  heaven  ; 
all  these  are  the  beginnings  of  sorrows.     But  take  heed 
to  yourselves  ;  for  before  all  these,  they  shall  lay  their 
hands  on  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  deliver  you  up  to 
councils,  and  to  the  synagogues,  and  into  prisons,  to  be 
afflicted  ;  and  in  the  synagogues,  ye  shall  be  beaten  : 
and  ye  shall  be  brought  before  rulers  and  kings  for  my 
name's  sake  ;  and  they  shall  kill  you  :  and  ye  shall  be 
hated  of  all  nations  for  my  name's  sake. — And  it  shall 
turn  to  you  for  a  testimony  against  them.      But  when 
they  shall  lead  you,  and  deliver  you  up,  settle  it  there- 
fore in  your  heart?,  and  take  no  thought  before-hand 
what  he  shall  speak,  neither  do  ye  premeditate  :  but 
whatsoever  shall  be  given  you  in  that  hour,  that  speak 
ye  :   for  it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Holy  Ghost.    For 
I  will  give  you  a  mouth  of  wisdom,  which  all  your  ad- 
versaries shall  not  be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 

And  then  shall  many  be  offended,  and  shall  betray 
one  another,  and  shall  hate  one  another.  Now  the 
brother  shall  betray  the  brother  to  death,  and  the  father 
the  son  ;  and  children  shall  rise  up  against  their  parents, 
and  shall  cause  them  to  be  put  to  death.  And  ye  shall 
be  betrayed  both  by  parents,  and  brethren,  and  kins- 
folks, and  friends  :  and  some  of  you  shall  they  cause  to 
be  put  to  death.  But  there  shall  not  a  hair  of  your 
head  perish.  In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls. 
And  many  false  prophets  shall  rise,  and  shall  deceive 


316  HARMONY    OF    THE 

many.  And  because  iniquity  shall  abound,  the  love  of 
many  shall  wax  cold  :  but  he  that  shall  endure  unto  the 
end,  the  same  shall  be  saved.  And  this  gospel  of  the 
kingdom  shall  be  preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  witness 
unto  all  nations  ;  and  then  shall  the  end  come. 

The  whole  of  this  prophecy  most  evidently  shews  us  how 
vain  and  dangerous  it  is  to  trust  in  external  privileges,  and  to 
cry  out,  as  these  foolish  and  wretched  Jeivs  did,  The  temple  of 
the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  are 
these  buildings;  when  of  this  stately  and  magnificent  structure, 
within  less  than  half  a  century  after  it  was  finished,  not  one 
stone  was  left  on  another  undemolished. 

So  particular  a  prediction,  when  compared  with  the  event, 
must  surely  confirm  our  faith  in  Christ,  as  the  great  Prophet 
which  was  to  come  into  the  world.  And  we  shall  see  reason  to 
admire  the  -wisdom  and  goodness  of  Divine  Providence  in  giving 
us,  almost  by  a  miraculous  preservation  of  the  author,  such  a 
commentary  on  this  prophecy  as  is  delivered  dow^n  to  us  in  the 
works  of  Josephus,  the  Jewish  historian,  which  throw  a  much 
stronger  light  upon  it  than  if  they  had  been  written  by  a  Chris- 
tian on  purpose  to  illustrate  it. 

Let  us  bless  God  that  our  own  eyes  hare  not  seen  such  deso- 
lations and  ruins,  such  commotions  in  the  natural  and  moral 
world,  such  dissentions,  in  civil  life,  such  persecutions  and  hatreds 
amongst  the  nearest  relatives,  under  the  pretence  of  propagating 
religion;  which,  however  propagated,  is  nothing  without  that 
love  which  is  so  often  made  the  first  victim  to  it. 

"Yet  too  plainly  do  we  see,  in  one  form  or  another,  iniquity 
abounding  and  the  love  of  many  waxing  cold.  Let  us  endeavour 
to  revive  on  our  own  hearts  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  of 
Divine  things:  and  remember,  whenever  we  are  tempted  to  let, 
go  our  integrity,  that  it  is  he  alone  ivho  endures  to  the  end  that 
shall  be  saved. 

Whatever  our  trials  are,  let  us  cheerfully  confide  in  the  pro- 
tection of  Divine  Providence ;  nor  let  us  despair  of  those  con- 
tinued influences  of  the  blessed  Spirit  which  may  animate  us 
to  the  most  difficult  services,  and  support  us  under  the  most 
painful  sufferings.  Let  us  therefore  in  patience  possess  our  own 
souls,  and  maintain  that  composure  and  steadiness  of  spirit,  as 
those  that  know  how  much  more  valuable  it  is  than  any  enjoy- 
ment which  can  be  taken  away,  or  any  temporal  interest  which 
ca.n  be  brought  into  question. 


POUR    GOSPELS.  317 


SECTION  LXXX. 

Matt.  xxiv.  15—28.    Mark  xiii.  14—23. 
Luke  xxi.  20—24. 

And  when  ye  therefore  shall  see  Jerusalem  compassed 
with  armies,  then  know  that  the  desolation  thereof  is 
nigh,  that  is,  the  abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of 
by  Daniel  the  prophet,  standing  where  it  ought  not,  in 
the  holy  place,  (whoso  readeth,  let  him  understand :) 
then  let  them  which  be  in  Judea  flee  into  the  moun- 
tains ;  and  let  them  which  are  in  the  midst  of  it  depart 
out ;  and  let  not  them  that  are  in  the  countries  enter 
thereinto ;  and  let  him  which  is  on  the  house-top  not 
come  down  into  the  house,  neither  enter  therein  to  take 
any  thing  out  of  his  house  ;  and  let  him  that  is  in  the 
field  not  turn  back  again  for  to  take  up  his  garment. 
For  these  be  the  days  of  vengeance,  that  all  things 
which  are  written  may  be  fulfilled.  But  woe  unto  them 
that  are  with  child,  and  to  them  that  give  suck,  in  those 
days  !  And  pray  ye  that  your  flight  be  not  in  the  winter, 
neither  on  the  sabbath-day.  For  in  those  days  shall  be 
great  tribulation,  such  as  was  not  from  the  beginning  of 
the  creation  which  God  created  unto  this  time,  no,  nor 
ever  shall  be.  For  there  shall  be  great  distress  in  the 
land,  affliction  and  wrath  upon  this  people.  And  they 
shall  fall  by  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  shall  be  led 
away  captive  into  all  nations  :  and  Jerusalem  shall  be 
trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles,  until  the  times  of  the 
Gentiles  be  fulfilled.  And  except  that  the  Lord  had 
shortened  those  days,  there  should  no  flesh  be  saved  : 
but  for  the  elect's  sake,  whom  he  hath  chosen,  those 
days  shall  be  shortened.  And  then  if  any  man  shall  say 
unto  you,  Lo,  here  is  Christ ;  or,  lo,  he  is  there  ;  be- 
lieve him  not.  For  there  shall  arise  false  Christs,  and 
false  prophets,  and  shall  shew  great  signs  and  wonders: 
insomuch  that,  if  it  were  possible,  they  shall  deceive  the 

28* 


318  HAR3I0NY    OF    THE 

very  elect.  But  take  ye  heed  :  behold,  I  have  fore- 
told you  all  things.  Wherefore  if  they  shall  say  unto 
you,  Behold,  he  is  in  the  desert ;  go  not  forth  :  behold, 
he  is  in  the  secret  chambers  ;  believe  it  not.  For  as 
the  lightning  cometh  out  of  the  east,  and  shineth  even 
unto  the  west ;  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of 
man  be.  For  wheresoever  the  carcass  is,  there  will  the 
eagles  be  gathered  together. 

\{  our  Lord  urges  his  disciples,  with  such  speedy  and  solicitous 
haste,  to  Jice  from  the  sword  of  God's  temporal  judgments,  how 
much  greater  diligence  should  we  give  to Jlee  from  the  wrath  to 
come!  What  are  any  of  the  little  interests  of  life,  that  out  of 
regard  to  them  we  should  be  willing  to  continue  one  moment 
longer  exposed  to  a  danger  which  may  sink  us  into  everlasting 
perdition  and  despair  I 

We  have  here  a  lively  description  of  that  aggravated  rmn 
which  was  brught  upon  the  Jews  for  neglecting  Christ;  even 
great  tribulation,  such  as  had  never,  from  the  very  beginning 
of  the  world,  lallen  upon  any  other  nation,  nor  shall  evev  be 
equalled.  Thus  was  his  blood  upon  them,  and  their  children. 
(Matt,  xxvii.  25.)  May  we  never  know  what  it  is  to  have  this 
blood  crying  against  us  for  trampling  it  underfoot  as  an  unholy 
thing  .'  (Heb.  X.  29.)  For  surely  to  the  Jews,  who  thus  rejected 
the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves,  all  these  things  which  they 
suffered  were  but  the  beginning  of  sorrows;  and  the  famine  and 
sedition,  pestilence  and  slaughter,  by  which  so  many  thousands 
perished,  served  only  to  consign  them  over  to  infinitely  more 
terrible  indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish,  which 
will  at  last  fall  on  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil,  viheiher  Jew 
or  Gentile,     (Rom.  ii.  8,  9.) 

These  unhappy  creatures  eagerly  listened  to  the  very  name 
of  a  Messiah,  by  whomsoever  it  was  assumed;  while  they  re- 
jected him  whom  God  had  sent  them,  and  who  had  so  long,  and 
with  so  much  importunity,  been  renewing  to  them  the  offers  of 
life  and  salration.  May  none  of  us  ever  know  the  sad  impa- 
tience with  which  condemned  sinners  will  wish,  and  wish  in 
vain,  for  those  overtures  and  messages  of  grace  which  they  now 
despise  !  In  that  sense,  wheresoever  the  carcass  is,  there  loill  the 
eagles  be  gathered  together:  wherever  there  is  the  like  unbelief 
and  impenitence,  there  will  be  in  its  degree  the  like  ruitj. 
Ckrist  has  graciously  told  us  these  things  before :  may  wehumbly 
attend  to  the  warning,  that  none  of  this  terror  and  destructioa 
may  ever  come  upon  us. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  319 


SECTION  LXXXI. 


Matthew  xxiv.  29 — 36.     Mark  xiii.  24 — 32. 
Luke  xxi.  25 — 33. 

But  immediately  after  the  tribulation  of  those  days 
there  shall  be  signs  in  the  sun,  and  in  the  moon,  and  in 
the  stars.  The  sun  shall  be  darkened,  and  the  moon 
shall  not  give  her  light,  and  the  stars  shall  fall  from 
heaven  ;  and  upon  the  eaith  shall  be  distress  of  nations, 
with  perplexity  ;  the  sea  and  the  waves  roaring  ;  men's 
hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  and  for  looking  after  those 
things  which  are  coming  on  the  earth  :  for  the  powers  of 
heaven  shall  be  shaken.  And  then  shall  appear  the 
sign  of  the  Son  of  man  in  heaven  :  and  then  shall  all  the 
tribes  of  the  earth  mourn,  and  they  shall  see  the  Son  of 
man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and 
great  glory.  And  then  shall  be  send  his  angels  with  a 
great  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  they  shall  gather  together 
his  elect  from  the  four  winds,  from  the  one  end  of  heaven 
to  the  other,  from  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  to  the 
uttermost  part  of  heaven. 

And  when  these  things  begin  to  'come  to  pass,  then 
look  up,  and  lift  up  your  heads  ;  for  your  redemption 
draweth  nigh. 

And  he  spake  unto  them  a  parable,  saying,  Now 
learn  a  parable  of  the  fig-tree  ;  Behold,  the  fig-tree  and 
all  the  trees.  When  their  branch  is  yet  tender,  and 
putleth  forth  leaves,  ye  sec  gjid  know  of  your  own 
selves  that  summer  is  now  nigh  at  hand.  So  likewise 
ye,  when  ye  shall  see  all  these  things  come  to  pass, 
know  ye  that  the  kingdom  of  God  is  nigh  at  hand,  even 
at  the  doors.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  genera- 
tion shall  not  pass  away,  till  all  these  things  be  fulfilled. 
Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away  :  but  my  words  shall 
not  pass  away  :  But  of  that  day  and  that  hour  knoweth 
no  marif  no,  not  the  angels  which  are  in  heaven,  neither 
the  Son,  but  my  Father  only. 


320  HAEMONY    OF    THE 

Let  us  now  raise  our  coutemplations  to  that  awful  day  when 
all  th^.t  was  figuratively  spoken  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
shall  be  literally  accomplished  ;  and  let  us  consider  our  own  inti- 
mate concern  in  it.  Where  will  our  hope  and  comfort,  our  light,  and 
our  safety  be,  when  the  sun  shall  he  darkened^  and  the  moon  shall 
not  give  her  light,  when  the  stars  shall  fall  from  heaven,  and  the 
powers  of  the  heavens  shall  be  shaken  ?  where,  indeed,  unless  the 
almighty  God,  the  everlasting  Jehovah,  by  whose  voice  they  were 
created,  and  by  whose  hand  they  shall  be  dashed  in  pieces  again, 
shall  condescend  to  be  our  light,  and  our  salvation  (Ps.  xxviii.l. ) 
And  if  he  indeed  be  so,  then  we  may  lift  up  our  heads  with  joy; 
as  knowing  that  our  complete  redemption  draweth  nigh,  even 
ihat  long  expected  day  which,  with  all  its  solemn  horrors,  has 
still  been  the  brightest  object  of  our  faith  and  our  hopes. 

Then  shall  the  Son  of  man  indeed  come  in  the  clouds  of  hea- 
ven, with  power  and  great  glory,  and  send  his  angels  to  summon 
his  elect,  and  to  assemble  them  /rom  one  end  of  heaven  to  tfie 
other ;  for  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a 
shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of 
God.  (1  Thess.  iv.  16.)  May  we  hear  the  summons  with  joy, 
and  stand  in  our  lot  among  his  chosen  ones  !  What  though  the 
day  and  season  be  unknown  ?  It  is  enough  for  us  that  we  know 
that  all  these  interposing  days  and  years,  be  they  ever  so  numer- 
ous, will  at  length  be  past ;  for  the  promise  of  the  great  Redeemer 
is  our  security,  and  he  will  hasten  it  in  his  time.  (Isa.  Ix.  22.) 

These  visible  heavens  shall  be  rolled  together  as  a  scroll,  and 
the  earth  shall  be  removed  out  of  its  place  ;  but  the  sure  word  of 
his  promise  shall  never  pass  away  ;  even  that  promise  which  is 
engaged  for  the  salvation  of  his  people.  Let  us  often  review  it : 
let  us  firmly  realize  it  to  our  souls,  and,  seeing  we  look  for  such 
things,  let  us  seriously  consider  what  mangier  of  persons  ive  ought 
to  be  in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness.  (2  Pet.  iii- 11, 14.) 


POUR    GOSPELS.  321 


SECTION  LXXXII. 

Matthew  xxiv.  37 — 51.   Mark  xiir.  33 — 37. 
Luke  xxi.  34 — 36. 

And  take  heed  to  yourselves,  lest  at  any  time  your  hearts 
be  overcharged  with  surfeiting,  and  drunkenness,  and 
cares  of  this  life,  and  so  that  day  come  upon  you  una- 
wares. For  as  a  snnre  shall  it  come  on  all  them  that 
dwell  on  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.  But  as  the  days 
of  Noe  were,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man 
be.  For  as  in  the  days  that  were  betore  the  flood  they 
were  eating  and  drinking,  marrying  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage, until  the  day  that  Noe  entered  the  ark,  and  knew 
not  until  the  flood  came,  and  took  them  all  away;  so 
shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be.  Then 
shall  two  be  in  the  field  ;  the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the 
other  left :  two  women  shall  be  orinding  at  the  mill  ;  the 

CO  ' 

one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 

Take  ye  heed  ;  watch  therefore,  and  pray  always, 
that  ye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  escape  all  these 
things  that  shall  come  to  pass,  and  to  stand  before  the 
Son  of  man.  For  ye  know  not  what  hour  your  Lord 
doth  come. 

For  the  Son  of  man  is  as  a  man  taking  a  far  journey, 
who  left  his  house,  and  gave  authority  to  his  servants, 
and  to  every  man  his  work,  and  commanded  the  porter 
to  watch.  Watch  ye  therefore.  But  know  this,  that 
if  the  good  man  of  the  house  had  known  in  what  watch 
the  thief  would  come,  he  would  have  watched,  and 
would  not  have  suffered  his  house  to  be  broken  up. 
Therefore  be  ye  also  ready  :  for  in  such  an  hour  as  you 
think  not  the'^Son  of  rrian  cometh. 

Who  then  is  a  faithful  and  wise  servant,  whom  his 
Lord  hath  made  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give  them 
meat  in  due  season  ?  Blessed  is  that  servant,  whoin  his 
lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing.     Verily  I  say 


323  HARMONY    OF    THE 

unto  you,  that  he  shall  make  him  ruler  over  all  his 
goods.  But  and  if  that  evil  servant  shall  say  in  his 
heart,  My  lord  delayeth  his  coming  ;  and  shall  begin  to 
smite  his  fellow-servants,  and  to  eat  and  drink  with  the 
drunken  ;  the  Lord  of  that  servant  shall  come  in  a  day 
when  he  looketh  not  for  him,  and  in  an  hour  that  he  is 
not  aware  of;  and  shall  cut  him  asunder,  and  appoint 
him  his  portion  with  the  hypocrites  :  there  shall  be 
weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  Watch  ye  therefore: 
for  ye  know  not  when  the  master  of  the  house  cometh, 
at  even,  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  cock-crowing,  or  in 
the  morning  :  lest  coming  suddenly  he  find  you  sleep- 
ing.    And  what  I  say  unto  you  I  say  unto  all,  Watch. 

What  slothful  hearts  must  we  have  if  these  repeated  admom- 
tions  do  not  awaken  us ;  even  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon 
precept  ?  The  patience  of  God  is  waiting  upon  us,  as  it  did  on 
the  old  world,  while  the  ark  was  preparing.  (I  Peter  iii.  20.) 
May  we  take  the  warning,  and  seek  shelter  before  the  door  he 
shut  against  us  !  Let  us  therefore  take  heed,  lest  sensualities  and 
secular  cares  overcharge  and  depress  our  hearts,  and  amuse  us 
with  vain  delusions,  till  sudden  and  unavoidable  destruction  come 
upon  us.     (I  Thess.  v.  3.) 

We  are  by  profession  the  domestics  of  Christ.  Let  us  attend 
to  the  offices  he  has  assigned  us,  though  he  seem  at  a  distance. 
Let  us  diligently  wait  his  coming,  at  whatever  season.  Let  his 
ministers  especially  wait  it ;  and  be  solicitous,  that  they  may  be 
found  so  doing,  conducting  themselves  like  wise  stewards  of  the 
mysteries  of  God,  dispensing  to  every  one  his  portion  of  food  in 
due  season.  Then  will  our  account  be  honourable,  and  our  re- 
ward glorious. 

May  God  deliver  us  from  the  guilt  and  condemnation  of  the 
cruel,  and  imperious,  and  the  luxurious  servant,  who  began  to 
heat  his  fellows,  and  to  eat  and  drink  with  the  drunken  ;  since 
we  are  expressly  told  his  dreadful  doom  !  Justly  does  our  Lord 
declare  that  to  such  a  one  he  will  appoint  a  portion  vnth  hypo- 
crites, terrible  as  their  portion  must  be  ;  for  no  hypocrisy  can  be 
baser  than  to  call  ourselves  the  servants  and  ministers  of  Christ, 
while  we  are  the  slaves  of  ambition,  avarice,  and  intemperance. 
Wherever  such  are  found,  under  whatever  mask  and  form,  may  he 
reform  them  by  his  grace,  or  disarm  them  of  that  power  and  influ- 
ence" which  they  continually  abuse  to  his  dishonour,  and  to  their 
own  aggravated  damnation  !  Let  us  in  the  mean  time  be  exhort- 
ing each  other  daily,  while  it  is  called  to-day,  lest  any  by  insen- 
sible degrees  be  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin;  (Heb. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  3^3 

iii,  13;)  and  let  us  always  remember  that  every  exhortation 
which  we  give  to  others  returns  with  redoubled  weight  upon  our- 
selves. 


SECTION  LXXXIII. 

Matthew  xxv.  1 — 13. 

Then  shall  the  kingdom  of  heaven  be  likened  unto  ten 
virgins,  which  took  their  lamps,  and  went  forth  to  meet 
the  bridegroom.  And  five  of  tliem  were  wise,  and  five 
tt'ere  foolish.  They  that  were  foolish,  took  their  lamps, 
and  took  no  oil  with  them  :  but  the  wise  took  oil  in  their 
vessels  with  their  lamps.  While  the  bridegroom  tarried, 
they  all  slumbered  and  slept.  And  at  midnight  there 
was  a  cry  made.  Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh  ;  go  ye 
out  to  meet  him.  Then  all  those  virgins  arose,  and 
trimmed  their  lamps.  And  the  foolish  said  unto  the 
wise.  Give  us  of  your  oil,  for  our  lamps  are  gone  out. 
But  the  wise  answered,  saying.  Not  so  ;  lest  there  be  not 
enough  for  us  and  you :  but  go  ye  rather  to  them  that 
sell,  and  buy  for  yourselves.  And  while  they  went  to 
buy,  the  bridegroom  came :  and  they  that  were  ready 
went  in  with  him  to  the  marriage  :  and  the  door  was  shut. 
Afterward  came  also  the  other  virgins,  saying,  Lord, 
Lord,  open  to  us.  But  he  answered  and  said.  Verily 
I  say  unto  you,  I  know  you  not.  Watch  therefore,  for 
ye  know  neither  the  day  nor  the  hour  wherein  the  Son 
of  man  cometh. 

Let  us  apply  our  hearts  lo  the  obvious  instructions  Which 
this  well-known  parable  so  naturally  suggests.  We  are  under 
a  religious  professton :  our  lamps  are  in  our  hands :  and  we  go 
/or/Zi  as  those  that  expect  lo  meet  Christ ;  as  those  that  desire 
and  hope  to  be  admitted  to  the  marriage- supper  of  the  Lamb. 
But,  alas,  how  few  are  there  that  are  truly  prepared  for  such  a 
blessedness  !  Would  to  God  there  were  reason  to  hope  that  the 
Christian  church  were  so  equally  divided,  that  Jive  of  ten  in  it 
had  the  oil  of  Divine  grace  in  their  hearts,  to  render  them 
burning  and  shining  lights  I 


324  Harmony  of  the 

Let  even  such  as  have  it  be  upon  their  guard  ;  for  our  Lord 
intimates  that  the  wise  as  well  as  the  foolish  virgins  are  too  apt 
to  slumber  and  sleep,  and  carelessly  to  intermit  {.haiivafch  which 
thpy  ou^ht  constantly  to  maintain.  There  may  be,  at  an  unex- 
pected time,  a  midnight  cry.  Happy  the  souls  that  can  hear  it 
with  pleasure;  being  not  only  habitually  but  actually  ready  to 
obey  the  summons  !  Happy  they  that  have  their  loins  girded, 
and  their  lamps  burning  I     (Luke  xii.  35) 

The  foolish  virgins  s-AW  iheit  error  too  late  ;  they  applied  to 
the  wise:  but  their  application  was  vain.  And  as  vain  will  the 
hope  of  those  be  who  trust  to  the  intercession  o{  departed  saints, 
or  any  supposed  redundancy  of  merit  in  them,  while  they  are 
themselves  strangers  to  a  holy  temper  and  life.  In  vain  will 
they  cry,  Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us.  The  door  of  mercy  will  be 
shut  for  ever,  and  the  workers  of  iniquity  utterly  disowned. 
The  day  of  grace  has  its  limits;  and  for  those  that  have  trifled 
it  away  there  remaineth  nothing  but  the  blackness  of  darkness 
for  ever  I     (Jude  13.) 


SECTION  LXXXIV. 

Matthew  xxv.  14 — 30, 

For  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  as  a  man  travelling  into  a 
far  country,  who  called  his  own  servants,  and  delivered 
unto  them  his  goods.  And  unto  one  he  gave  five  talents, 
to  another  two,  and  to  another  one  ;  to  every  man  ac- 
cording to  his  several  ability  ;  and  straightway  took  his 
journey.  Then  he  that  had  received  the  five  talents 
went  and  traded  with  the  same,  and  made  them  other 
five  talents.  And  likewise  he  that  had  received  two,  he 
also  gained  othei  two.  But  he  that  had  received  one 
went  and  digged  in  the  earth,  and  hid  his  lord'^  money. 
After  a  long  time  the  lord  of  those  servants  cometh,  and 
reckoneth  with  them.  And  so  he  that  had  received  five 
talents  came  and  brought  other  five  talents,  saying,  Lord, 
thou  deliveredst  unto  me  five  talents  :  behold  I  have  gain- 
ed beside  them  five  talents  more.  His  lord  said  unto  him, 
Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant :  thou  hast 
been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  326 

over  many  things  ;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord. 
He  also  that  had  received  two  talents,  came  and  said, 
Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto  me  two  talents  :  behold,  1 
have  gained  two  other  talents  beside  them.  His  lord 
said  unto  him,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant ;  thou 
hast  beei)  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  tiiee 
ruler  over  many  things :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
lord.  Then  he  which  had  received  the  one  talent  came 
and  said,  Lord,  I  knew  thee  that  thou  art  an  hard  man. 
reaping  where  thou  hast  not  sown,  and  gathering  where 
thou  hast  not  strawed  :  and  I  was  afraid,  and  went  and 
hid  thy  talent  in  the  earth :  lo,  there  thou  hast  that  is 
thine.  His  lord  answered  and  said  unto  him,  thou  wicked 
and  slothful  servant,  thou  knewest  that  I  reap  where  I 
sowed  not,  and  gather  where  I  have  not  strawed  :  Thou 
oughtest  therefore  to  have  put  my  money  to  the  ex- 
changers, and  then  at  my  coming  I  should  have  received 
mine  own  with  usury.  Take  therefore  the  talent  from 
him,  and  give  it  unto  him  which  hath  ten  talents.  For 
unto  every  one  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he  shall 
have  abundance  :  but  from  him  that  hath  not  sliall  be 
taken  away  even  that  which  he  hath.  And  cast  ye  the 
unprofitable  servant  into  outer  darkness:  there  shall  bp 
vveeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 

What  can  excite  us  to  a  becoming  care  and  activity  in  the 
duties  of  life,  if  we  are  deaf  to  those  various  and  important 
motives  which  this  excellent  parable  suggests  ?  We  have  each 
of  us  received  our  talents^  whether  Jive^  or  two^  or  one;  and  if 
•WQ  he  faithful,  it  matters  not  much  under  which  of  these  classes 
we  fall.  Our  acceptance  and  reward  will  be  proportionable  to 
our  diligence ;  nor  will  any  be  blamed  because  he  has  not  re- 
ceived Jive,  though  many  will  be  condemned  for  neglecting  one. 

Yet  a  little  while,  and  ov.r  Lord  comes  to  reckon  with  us,  and 
even  now  his  eye  is  continually  upon  us.  Let  us  ask  our  own 
souls,  with  what  temper,  with  what  courage,  with  what  cheer- 
fulness, shall  we  appear  before  him  ?  Let  ug  think  of  that  ap- 
pearance with  awe,  but  not  with  terror.  Away  with  every 
unjust  thought  and  reasoning,  (with  whatever  artifice  it  be  ex- 
cused, with  whatever  honourable  name  it  be  dignified)  that 
would  represent  him  as  a  rigorous  and  severe  Master,  and  pro- 

29 


326  HARMONY    OF   THE 

duce  a  servile  dread,  which  would  cut  the  sinews  of  industry, 
and  sink  the  soul  into  a  sullen  negligent  despair. 

Whatever  our  particular  snares  in  life  may  be,  let  us  think 
of  the  doom  of  the  slothful  servant,  to  awaken  our  souls,  and  to 
deter  us  from  every  degree  of  unfaithfulness.  And,  on  the  other 
hand,  let  us  often  reflect  on  that  unutterable  transport  which 
will  overflow  the  breast  of  every  real  Christian,  when  his  gra- 
cious blaster  shall  condescend,  in  so  honourable  a  manner,  to 
commemorate  his  honest,  though  feeble,  attempts  of  service ; 
and  shall  say,  JVell  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant ;  thou 
hast  been  faithful  in  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over 
many  things  :  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.'  May  that  Joy 
be  the  great  object  of  our  hopes  and  pursuits  I  and  may  our 
daily  care  in  the  improvement  of  every  tale7it  lodged  in  our 
hands  be  a  token  to  us  that  it  will  be  sure  and  great  I 


SECTION    LXXXV. 

Matt.  xxv.  31 — 46. 

When  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  his  glory,  and  all 
the  holy  angels  with  him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the 
throne  of  his  glory.  And  before  him  shall  be  gathered 
all  nations  :  and  he  shall  separate  them  one  from  another, 
as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the  goats  :  and  he 
shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats  on  the 
left.  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his  right 
hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  king- 
dom prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  ; 
For  1  was  an-hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat :  I  was 
thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink  :  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye 
took  me  in  :  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  :  I  was  sick,  and 
ye  visited  me  :  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me. 
Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him,  saying,  Lord,  when 
saw  we  thee  an-hungered,  and  fed  ifiee  ?  or  thirsty,  and 
gave  t^ce  drink  ?  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger>  and 
took  ihee  in  ?  or  naked,  and  clothed  iliee  ?  or  when  saw 
we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came  unto  thee  ?  And 
the  King  shall  answer  and  say  unto  them,  Verily  1  say 
unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 


J  FOUR    GOSPELS.  327 

least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me. 
Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on  the  left  hand,  De- 
part from  me.  ye  cursed  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared 
for  the  devil  and  his  angels  :  For  I  viras  an-hungered,  and 
ye  gave  me  no  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
drink  :  I  veas  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not  in  :  naked, 
and  ye  clothed  me  not :  sick,  and  in  prison,  and  ye  visit- 
ed me  not.  Then  shall  they  also  answer  him,  saying, 
Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an-hungered,  or  athirst,  or  a 
stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  did  not  min- 
ister unto  thee  ?  Then  shall  he  answer  them,  saying, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not  to  one 
of  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not  to  me.  And  these 
shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment :  but  the 
righteous  into  life  eternal. 

Let  us  now  behold,  with  an  attentive  eye  and  a  solicitous 
heart,  the  end  of  all  the  living  ;  that  awful  scene,  in  which  the 
various  dispensations  of  God  to  mankind  shall  terminate  in  the 
solemn  day,  when  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  his  glory,  and 
sit  on  his  magfnificent  throne.  All  nations  and  people  shall  be 
assembled  before  him,  and  we  must  make  up  apart  of  the  assem- 
bly. The  sheep  and  the  goats  must  then  be  separated:  and,  O 
my  soul,  among'st  which  wilt  thou  then  be  numbered?  Is  there 
an  inquiry,  is  there  a  care,  of  greater,  of  equal,  of  comparable 
importance  ? 

Let  us  view  the  sentence  we  must  shortly  hear,  as  he  who 
will  himself  pronounce  it  has  been  pleased  to  give  us  a  copy  of 
it.  Can  wc  conceive  any  thing  more  dreadful  than  that  which 
shall  be  passed  on  those  on  the  left-hand;  to  be  driven  from  the 
presence  of  Christ  as  accursed,  and  to  be  consigned  over  to  a  de- 
vouring^re  .'  and  this  is  not  only  to  the  tortures  of  a  moment, 
or  an  hour,  (as  in  some  painful  executions  that  have  been 
known  here,)  but  io  everlasting  fire,  yea,  to  fire  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels,  where  they  will  be  perpetual  companions, 
and  perpetual  tormentors  !  should  not  the  thought  that  he  is  in 
danger,  in  hourly  danger,  of  being  sealed  up  under  this  sen- 
tence, awaken  the  most  stupid  sinner,  and  engage  him  eagerly 
to  cry  out,  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ? — And  on  whom  is  this 
sentence  passed  ?  Let  us  attentively  observe  it  I  Not  merely 
on  the  most  gross  and  abandoned  sinners,  but  on  those  who  have 
lived  in  an  habitual  neglect  of  their  duty :  not  merely  on  those 
who  have  ravaged  and  persecuted  the  saints  (though  surely 


328  HARMONY    OF    THE 

their  furnace  will    be  healed  seven    times  hotter  than  that  of 
others,)  but  even  on  those  who  have  neglected  to  relieve  them. 

On  the  other  hand,  let  us  seriously  reflect  what  it  will  be  to 
be  owned  by  Christ  before  the  assembled  world  ;  and  to  hear 
him  saying  with  a  sweet  smile,  and  with  a  voice  of  harmony 
and  love.  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  loorld.  How  infi- 
nite is  the  loA'^e  that  prepared  that  kingdom  for  us  before  we  had 
a  being!  how  rich  the  blood  that  purchased  it!  how  overflow- 
ing the  grace  that  bestows  it  on  such  mean,  such  undeserving 
creatures !  Bless  the  Lord,  O  our  souls,  in  the  prospect  of  it  I 
Let  men  curse,  O  Lord,  if  /Aow  wilt  thus  bless,  (Psalm  cix.  28.) 
Let  them  load  our  names  with  infamy  if  thou  wilt  adorn  them 
with  such  glory  :  let  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  and  all  the 
pomp  of  them,  be  despised  and  trampled  under  foot,  when  of- 
fered as  an  equivalent  for  this  infinitely  more  glorious  kingdom. 

Let  us  attentively  observe  the  charade'^  of  those  who  are  to 
receive  it.  They  are  the  useful  and  benevolent  souls;  such  as 
have  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  not  only  in  his  name,  and  or- 
dinances, and  promises,  but  have  loved  him  in  his  laws,  and  in 
his  people  loo ;  and  have  known  him  in  those  humble  forms  in 
which  he  has  been  pleased,  as  it  were  by  proxy,  to  appear 
among  us.  /  was  hungry,  and  ye  fed  me  ;  thirsty,  and  ye  gave 
me  drink,  &c. ;  for  in  as  much  as  ye  did  it  to  one  of  the  least  of 
these  my  brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  me.  Amazing  words!  that  the 
meanest  saint  should  be  owned  by  the  King  of  glory  as  one  of 
his  brethren !  Irresistible  argument  to  those  that  do  indeed 
believe  these  words,  to  stir  them  up  to  abound  in  every  good 
word  and  work!  Under  this  impression,  methinks,  instead  of 
hiding  ourselves  from  those  who  should  be  to  us  as  our  own 
flesh  by  virtue  of  our  common  union  to  him,  we  should  not 
only  hearken  to  their  entreaties,  but  even  search  them  out  in 
those  corners  to  which  modest  want  may  sometimes  retire,  and 
cast  about  in  our  thoughts  how  we  may  secure  any  happy  op- 
portunity of  relieving  some  poor  saint,  for  their  sokes.,  and /or 
their  Master''s,  and  even  for  our  oxen.  What  if  Christ  came  to 
us  in  person  as  a  poor  helpless  stranger  ?  What  if  we  saw  him 
destitute  of  food  and  raiment,  or  in  want  of  any  other  necessa- 
ries of  life  ?  Should  we  not  contend  for  it  as  an  honour,  which 
of  us  should  receive  him  into  our  houses,  which  of  us  should 
entertain  him  at  our  table,  which  of  us  should  even  strip  our- 
selves of  our  clothing  to  give  it  to  him  ?  And  yet  he  tells  us 
that  he  is  in  effect  with  us  in  his  poor  members  ;  and  we  invent 
a  thousand  cold  excuses  for  neglecting  to  assist  him,  and  send 
our  compassionate  Saviour  away  empty.  Is  this  the  temper  of  a 
Christian?  Is  this  the  temper  in  which  we  should  wish  to  be 
found  at  the  judgment-day? 


FOUR    GOSPELS. 


329 


But  use  know  not  Christ  in  this  disguise.  Neither  did  these 
unhappy  creatures  on  the  left-hand  know  him  :  they  are  surprised 
to  be  told  of  such  a  thing  ;  and  yet  are  represented  as  pe- 
rishing for  it.  Away  therefore  with  all  those  religious  hopes 
(vainly  so  called)  which  leave  the  heart  hardened,  and  the 
hand  contracted  from  good  works !  If  we  shut  up  the  bowels  of 
compassion  from  our  brethren^  how  dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in 
us  ?  (1  John  iii.  17.)  Or  to  what  doth  the  love  of  Christ 
constrain  us,  if  it  be  not  to  the  exercise  of  gratitude  to  him, 
and  the  offices  of  cheerful  and  active  friendship  to  those  whom 
he  now  owns  as  his  brethren,  and  whom  he  will  not  be  ashamed 
to  call  so  in  the  midst  of  his  highest  triumph  ?  Blessed  Jesus, 
how  munificent  art  thou  !  and  what  a  fund  of  c/iarj;7^  didst  thou 
lay  up  in  the  very  words  which  are  now  before  us !  In  all 
ages  since  they  were  spoken,  how  many  hungry  hast  thou  fed, 
how  many  naked  hast  thou  clothed,  how  many  calamitous  crea- 
tures hast  thou  relieved  by  them  !  May  they  be  written  deep 
in  our  hearts,  that  the  joy  with  which  we  shall  finally  meet 
thee  may  be  increased  by  the  happy  effect  of  this  day's  medita- 
tion ! 


•  SECTION  LXXXVI. 

Matt.  xxvi.  1—4,  14—16.     Mark  xiv.  1,  2,  10,  11. 
Luke  xxi.  37,  38.  xxii.  1 — 6. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had  finished  all  these 
sayings,  he  said  unto  his  disciples,  Ye  know  that  after 
two  days  is  the  feast  of  the  passover,  and  the  Son  of 
man  is  betrayed  to  be  crucified. 

Then  assembled  together  the  chief  priests,  and  the 
Scribes,  and  the  elders  of  the  people,  unto  the  palace 
of  the  high  priest,  who  was  called  Caiaphas,  and  con- 
sulted and  sought  how  they  might  take  Jesus  by  subtilty, 
and  kill  him.  But  they  said.  Not  on  the  feast-tZai/,  lest 
there  be  an  uproar  among  the  people  ;  for  they  feared 
the  people. 

Then  entered  Satan  into  Judas  surnamed  Iscariot, 
being  of  the  number  of  the  twelve  ;  and  he  went  his 
way  unto  the  chief  priests  and  captains,  and  communed 
with  them  how  he  might  betray  him  unto  them  :  and 

29* 


•330  HAR^roNY  OF  THE 

when  they  heard  it,  they  were  glad,  and  promised  to 
give  him  money.  And  he  said  unto  them,  What  will  ye 
give  me,  and  I  will  deliver  him  unto  you  ?  and  they 
covenanted  with  him  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  And 
he  promised,  and  from  that  time  he  sought  opportunity 
how  he  might  conveniently  betray  him  unto  them  in  the 
absence  of  the  multitude. 

Luke  xxi.  37,  38. 

And  in  the  day-time  he  was  teaching  in  the  temple  ; 
and  at  night  he  went  out,  and  abode  in  the  mount  that 
is  called  the  mount  of  Olives.  And  all  the  people  came 
early  in  the  morning  to  him  in  the  temple,  for  to  hear 
him. 

We  see  with  what  unremitting  rigour  the  great  Author  and 
Finisher  of  our  faith  pressed  forward  towards  the  mark^  and 
how  he  quickened  his  pace,  as  he  saw  the  day  approaching  ; 
spending  in  devotion  the  greatest  part  of  the  nighty  which  suc- 
ceeded to  his  most  laborious  days,  and  resuming  his  work  early 
in  the  morning .'  How  much  happier  were  his  disciples  in 
these  early  lectures  than  the  slumbers  of  the  morning  could 
have  made  them  on  their  beds!  Let  us  not  scruple  to  deny 
ourselves  the  indulgence  of  unnecessary  sleep,  that  we  may 
come  morning  after  morning  to  place  ourselves  at  his  feet,  and 
lose  no  opportunity  of  receiving  the  instructions  of  his  word, 
and  seeking  those  of  his  Spirit. 

But  while  his  gracious  heart  was  thus  intent  on  doing  good, 
the  chief  priests  and  rulers  of  tJie  people  were  no  less  intent  on 
mischief  and  murder.  They  took  counsel  together  hoic  they 
might  put  him  to  death.  They  set  upon  his  head  the  price  of  a 
slave.,  and  find  an  apostle  base  enough  to  accept  it.  Blush,  O 
y%  heavens^  to  have  been  witness  to  this ;  and  be  ashamed,  O 
ea-^lh,  to  have  supported  so  infamous  a  creature  !  Yet  this  was 
the  man  who  but  a  few  days  before  was  the  foremost  to  appear 
as  an  advocate  for  the  poor,  and  to  censure  the  pious  zeal  of 
Mary.,  which  our  Lord  vindicated  and  applauded.  (John  xii. 
4 — 8.)  Let  the  fatal  fruits  of  his  covetous  disposition,  insti- 
gated by  Satan,  be  marked  with  abhorrence  and  terror  ;  and  if 
we  see  this  base  principle  harboured  in  the  breasts  of  those  who 
call  themselves  the  disciples  and  ministers  of  Christ,  let  us  not 
wonder  if  by  God's  righteous  judgment  they  are  given  up  to 
those  excesses  of  it  which  bring  upon  them  lasting  infamy  and 
endless  perdition. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  331 


SECTION  LXXXVII. 

Matt.  xxvi.  17 — 20.     Mark  xiv.  12 — 17. 
Luke  xxii.  7 — 18. 

Now  the  first  day  of  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  when 
the  passover  mu^t  be  killed,  the  disciples  came  to  Jesus, 
saying  unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou  that  we  go  and  pre- 
pare for  thee  that  thou  maysst  eat  the  passover  ?  And 
he  sendeth  forth  two  of  his  disciples,  Peter  and  John, 
and  saith  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  the  city,  and  behold, 
when  ye  are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  a  man 
meet  you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water  ;  follow  him  into 
the  house  where  he  entereth  in  ;  and  wheresoever  he 
shall  go  in,  say  ye  to  the  good  man  of  the  house  :  the 
Master  saith  unto  thee,  My  time  is  at  hand,  I  will  keep 
the  passover  at  thy  house  ;  where  is  the  guest-chamber 
where  I  slmli  eat  the  passover  with  my  disciples  ?  And 
he  will  shew  you  a  large  upper  room  furnished  and  pre- 
pared :  there  make  ready  for  us.  And  his  disciples 
went  forth  and  came  into  the  city,  and  found  as  he  had 
said  unto  them  :  and  they  did  as  he  had  appointed  them, 
and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 

Matt.  xxvi.  20.    Mark  xiv.  17.  Luke  xxii.  14 — 18. 

And  in  the  evening  he  cometh  with  the  twelve. 
And  when  the  hour  was  come  he  sat  down,  and  the 
twelve  apostles  with  him.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
With  desire  T  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you 
before  I  suffer  :  For  I  say  unto  you,  1  will  not  any 
more  eat  thereof,  until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the  kingdom  of 
God.  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  said, 
Take  this,  and  divide  it  among  yourselves  :  For  I  say 
unto  you,  I  will  not  drink  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until 
the  kingdom  of  God  shall  come. 

We  may  well  assure  ourselves,  that  the  same  Divine  penetra- 
tion and  prophetic  discernment  which  enabled  the  blessed  Jesus 


332  HARMONY  OF  THE 

thus  circumstantially  to  foretel  to  his  disciples  those  most  contin- 
gent occurrences  which  were  to  determine  the  place  where  they 
should  prepare  the  passover,  would  also  open  to  him  a  prospect  of 
all  that  was  to  follow.  All  the  scenes  that  were  to  be  passed 
through  on  this  fatal  night,  and  the  succeeding  black  and  bloody 
day,  were,  no  doubt,  attentively  viewed  :  the  agony  of  the  gar- 
den, the  traitorous  kiss  of  Judas,  the  cowardly  flight  of  all  the 
other  apostles^  the  insults  of  his  seemingly  victorious  and  suc- 
cessful enemies,  the  clamorous  accusations,  the  insolent  buffet' 
ings,  the  scourges,  the  thorns,  the  nails,  the  cross,  and  all  that 
he  has  to  endure  upon  it  from  the  hand  of  God  and  men.  Yet  be- 
hold, with  all  these  in  his  view,  he  goes  on  with  a  holy  alacrity,  and 
this  sun  of  righteousness,  rejoiceth as  a  champion  to  run  his  race! 
(Psalm  xix.  5.)  Yea,  when  he  is  sitting  down  to  the  paschal 
supper,  (though  therein  was  exhibited,  in  a  most  lively  embJem, 
the  bitterness  of  his  own  sutferings,)  he  utters  these  gracious  and 
emphatical  words,  With  desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover 
with  you  before  I  suffer. 


SECTION  LXXXVIII. 
John  xiii.  1 — 17. 

Now  before  the  feast  of  the  passover,  when  Jesus  knew 
that  his  hour  was  come  that  he  should  depart  out  of 
this  world  unto  the  Father,  having  loved  his  own  which 
were  in  the  world,  he  loved  them  unto  the  end.  And 
supper  being  ended,  the  devil  having  now  put  it  into 
the  heart  of  Judas  Iscariot,  Simon's  son,  to  betray  him  ; 
Jesus  knowing  that  the  Father  had  given  all  things 
into  his  hands,  and  that  he  was  come  from  God,  and 
went  to  God  ;  he  riseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  his 
garments,  and  took  a  towel,  and  girded  himself.  After 
that  he  pourelh  water  into  a  basin,  and  began  to  wash 
the  disciple's  feet,  and  wipe  them  with  the  towel  where- 
with he  was  girded.  Then  cometh  he  to  Simon  Peter  ; 
and  Peter  said  unto  him.  Lord,  dost  thou  wash  my  feet? 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  What  I  do  thou 
knowest  not  now  ;  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter. 
Peter  saith  unto  him.  Thou  shalt  never  wash  my  feet. 
Jesus  answered  him.  If  I  wash  thee  not,  thou  hast  no 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  333 

part  with  me.  Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  not 
my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands,  and  my  head.  Jesus 
saith  to  him.  He  that  is  washed  needeth  not  save  to 
wash  his  feet,  but  is  clean  every  whit :  and  ye  are 
clean,  but  not  all.  For  he  knew  who  should  betray 
him  ;  therefore  said  he,  Ye  are  not  all  clean. 

So  after  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  had  taken  his 
garments,  and  was  set  down  again,  he  said  unto  them, 
Know  ye  what  I  have  done  to  you  ?  Ye  call  me  Master, 
and  Lord  ;  and  ye  say  well,  for  so  1  am.  If  I  then 
your  Lord  and  Master,  have  washed  your  feet ;  ye  also 
ought  to  wash  one  another's  feet.  For  I  have  given 
you  an  example,  that  ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to 
you.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  The  servant  is  not 
greater  than  his  Lord  ;  neither  he  that  is  sent  greater 
than  he  that  sent  him.  If  ye  know  these  things,  happy 
are  ye  if  ye  do  them. 


But  let  us  tura  our  eyes  to  him  whom  we  justly  call  our  Teacher 
and  our  Lord  ;  for  surely,  if  any  thing  can  effect  a  cure,  it  must  be 
actions  and  words  like  these.  The  great  Heir  of  all  things,  in- 
vested with  universal  dominion,  and  just  returning  to  his  heavenly 
Father  to  undertake  the  administration  of  it :  in  what  a  habit,  m 
what  an  attitude,  do  we  see  him  !  Whom  would  a  stranger  have 
taken  for  the  lowest  of  the  company,  but  him  who  was  high  over 
all  created  nature  ?  Blessed  Jesus,  it  was  not  so  much  any  per- 
sonal attachment  to  these  thy  servants,  as  a  regard  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  thy  whole  church,  which  engaged  thee  to  this  astonishing 
action  :  that  all  thy  ministers,  that  all  thy  people,  in  conformity  to 
thy  example,  might  learn  a  readiness  to  serve  each  other  in  love  ! 

But  why  are  we  so  slow  to  receive  this  lesson  ?  And  why  is 
our  practice  often  so  contrary  to  it  ?  Surely  to  cleanse  us  from 
these  dregs  of  pride  and  carnality  we  need  in  a  spiritual  sense  to 
be  washed  by  him.  Let  us  gladly  submit  to  that  washings  if  we 
desire  to  secure  any  part  in  him,  Which  of  us  in  this  view  may 
not  see  reason  to  cry  out  with  Peter,  Lord,  not  om  feet  only,  but 
also  our  hands  and  our  head  ?  May  our  whole  nature  be  thus 
purified !  and,  warmly  emulous  of  conforming  to  so  bright  an  ex- 
ample, may  we  ever  be  maintaining  a  watchfulness  over  our  own 
spirits ,  correcting  the  first  appearances  of  irregularity,  and  wash- 
ing away  every  lightest  stain  which  omfeet  may  contract  in  this 
various  journey  !     So  shall  we  be  great  in  the  sight  and  favour  of 


334  HARMONY  OF  THE 

our  Master ;  and,  numbering  ourselves  among  the  least  of  his  ser- 
vants, shall  be  distinguished  by  peculiar  honours,  in  proportion  to 
the  degree  in  which  we  think  ourselves  most  unworthy  of  them. 


SECTION   LXXXIX. 

Matt.  xxvi.  21 — 26.  Maekxiv.  18 — 22.  Luke  xxii. 
19—23.   John  xiii.   18—30.    1  Cor.  xi.  23,  24. 

And  as  they  were  eating,  JesUs  took  bread,  and  blessed 
it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  disciples,  and  said, 
Take,  eat ;  This  is  my  body  which  is  given  for  you  : 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 

But  behold,  the  hand  of  him  that  betrayeth  me  is 
with  me  on  the  table.  And  truly  the  Son  of  man  goeth, 
as  it  was  determined  ;  but  woe  unto  that  man  by  whom 
he  is  betrayed  !  I  speak  not  of  you  all :  I  know  whom 
I  have  chosen  :  but  that  the  scripture  may  be  fulfilled, 
He  that  eateth  bread  with  me  hath  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  me.  Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come,  that  when 
it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  may  believe  that  I  am  he.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  receiveth  whomsoever  I 
send  receiveth  me  ;  and  he  that  receiveth  me  receiveth 
him  that  sent  me. 

When  Jesus  had  thus  said,  he  was  troubled  in  spirit, 
and  as  they  sat  and  did  eat,  he  testified  and  said.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  one  of  you  which  eateth  with 
me  shall  betray  me.  Then  the  disciples  looked  one  on 
another,  doubting  of  whom  he  spake  ;  and  they  began 
to  inquire  among  themselves,  which  of  them  it  was  that 
should  do  this  thing  ;  And  they  were  exceeding  sorrow- 
ful, and  began  every  one  of  them  to  say  unto  him  one 
by  one,  Lord,  is  it  I  ?  And  another  said.  Is  it  1 2  And 
he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  It  is  one  of  the  twelve, 
that  dippeth  his  hand  with  me  in  the  dish ;  the  same 
shall  betray  me.  The  Son  of  man  indeed  goeth,  as  it 
is  written  of  him  :  but  woe  unto  that  man  by  whom  the 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  335 

Son  of  man  is  betrayed  !  good  were  it  for  that  man  if 
he  had  never  been  born.  Now  there  was  leaning  on 
Jesus'  bosom  one  of  his  disciples,  whom  Jesus  loved. 
Simon  Peter  therefore  beckoned  to  him,  that  he  should 
ask  who  it  should  be  of  whom  he  spake.  He  then 
lying  on  Jesus'  breast,  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  who  is  it  ? 
Jesus  answered,  He  it  is,  to  whom  I  shall  give  a  sop, 
when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he  had  dipped  the 
sop,  he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon.  And 
after  the  sop  Satan  entered  into  Judas  surnamed  Iscariot, 
being  of  the  number  of  the  twelve.  Then  said  Jesus 
unto  him,  That  tliou  doest,  do  quickly.  Now  no  man 
at  the  table  knew  lor  what  intent  he  spake  this  unto  him. 
For  some  of  them  thought  because  Judas  had  the  bag, 
that  Jesus  had  said  unto  him.  Buy  those  things  that  we 
have  need  of  against  the  feast  ;  or,  that  he  should  give 
something  to  the  poor.  Then  Judas,  which  betrayed 
him,  answered  and  said.  Master,  is  it  I  ?  He  said  unto 
him,  Thou  hast  said.  He  then  having  received  the  sop, 
went  immediately  out ;  and  it  was  night. 

It  is  a  melancholy  reflection,  that  there  should  be  any  one  in 
this  select  company,  to  whom  this  endearing  promise  did  not 
belong ;  especially  one  who,  having  eaten  of  ChrisCs  bread 
should  in  such  a  sense  and  degree  as  Judas,  lift  up  his  heel 
against  him.  Deliver  us,  O  Lord^  from  any  share  in  that  guilt ! 
We  are  treated  as  thy  friends ;  we  are  set  at  thy  table  :  let  us 
not  ungratefully  kick  against  thee,  while  the  ox  knoweth  his 
owner,  and  the  ass  his  masters  crib.     (Isaiah  i.  3.) 

If  we  would  not  do  it,  let  us  he  jealous  over  ourselves  with  a 
godly  jealousy.  Happy  they  whose  hearts  witness  to  their  sin- 
cerity in  the  presence  of  him  that  searches  them,  andean  cheer- 
fully say,  Lord,  is  it  I ?  Let  them  say  it  humbly  too  ;  lest  the 
infirmity  of  nature  prevail  upon  them  beyond  their  present 
purpose  or  apprehension,  and  lead  them  on  to  do  that,  the  very 
thought  of  which  they  would  now  abhor. 

How  artfully  must  Judas  have  conducted  himself,  when  on 
such  an  intimation  no  particular  suspicion  appears  to  have  fallen 
on  himl  But  how  vain  is  that  artifice,  be  it  ever  so  refined, 
which,  while  it  preserves  a  character  in  the  sight  of  men,  can- 
not in  the  least  degree  impose  upon  Christ!  The  day  will 
come  when  he  will  lay  open  the  false  and  ungrateful  hypocrite^ 


336  HARMONY  OF  THE 

in  a  more  overwhelming  manner  than  that  in  which  he  here 
exposed  Judas;  and  whatever  advantage  he  may  have  gained, 
either  by  professing  religion,  or  by  betraying  it,  he  will  un- 
doubtedly find  that  it  had  been  good  for  him  that  he  had  never 
been  born. 

One  would  have  imagined  that  an  admonition  like  this,  which 
laid  bare  the  secrets  of  his  heart,  and  warned  him  so  plainly 
and  faithfully  of  his  danger,  might  have  wrought  some  remorse 
in  his  heart,  or  at  least  have  proved  some  impediment  to  the 
immediate  execution  of  his  design;  but,  being  now  given  up  by 
the  righteous  judgment  of  God  to  the  influence  of  Satan^  and 
the  lust  of  his  own  depraved  mind,  he  is  exasperated,  rather 
than  reclaimed  by  it ;  and  immediately  goes  forth^  under  the 
covert  of  the  night,  to  hasten  the  accomplishment  of  that  work 
of  darkness,  the  consequences  of  which  had  been  so  awfully  re- 
presented. O  Lord,  let  thy  grace  and  thy  love  do  that  for  us 
which  thy  terrors  alone  cannot  do !  Let  our  hearts  be  melted 
by  that  nobler  principle,  and  taught  to  abhor  every  thing  which 
would  displease  thee  !  Oh,  let  them  flow  forth  into  such  work- 
ings of  compassion  to  the  afflicted  as  engaged  the  blessed  Jesus 
to  relieve  the  poor  out  of  his  own  little  stock  ;  and  into  those 
sentiments  of  candour  which  would  not  permit  the  apostles,  even 
after  this  admonition,  to  imagine  Judas  altogether  so  bad  as  in- 
deed he  was,  but  led  them  to  put  the  mildest  construction  on 
their  Master's  ambiguous  address  to  him  !  Such  may  our  mis- 
takes be,  wherever  we  do  mistake  ;  the  errors  of  a  charity,  which 
would  not  by  excessive  rigour  injure  the  vilest  sinner,  and 
much  less  the  least  and  weakest  of  God's  servants ! 


SECTION  XC. 
John  xiii.  31 — 38. 

Therefore  when  he  was  gone  out,  Jesus  said,  Now  is 
the  Son  of  man  glorified,  and  God  is  glorified  in  him. 
If  God  be  glorified  in  him,  God  shall  also  glorify  him 
in  himself,  and  shall  straightway  glorify  him.  Little 
children,  yet  a  little  while  I  am  with  you.  Ye  shall 
seek  me  :  and  as  I  said  unto  the  Jews,  Whither  I  go, 
ye  cannot  come ;  so  now  I  say  to  you.  A  new  com- 
mandment I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another  ; 
as  I  have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another.     By 


FOITR    GOSIM.LS.  337 

this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
have  love  one  to  another. 

Simon  Peter  said  unto  him,  Lord,  whither  goest  thou  ? 
Jesus  answered  him,  Whither  I  go,  ihou  canst  not  fol- 
low me  now  ;  but  thou  shalt  follow  me  afterward. 
Peter  said  unto  him,  Lord,  why  cannot  I  follow  thee 
now  ?  I  will  lay  down  my  life  for  thy  sake.  Jesus 
answered  him.  Wilt  thou  lay  down  thy  life  for  my  sake  ? 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  the  cock  shall  not  crow, 
till  thou  hast  denied  me  thrice. 


In  this  instance,  as  in  all  othrrs,  let  us  be  mindfnl  of  the  dy- 
ing clutrge,  the  new  commandmtnl  of  our  dear  Lord;  and  let  us 
shew  upon  all  occasions  this  distiiiguishing  6af/ge  of  our  relation 
to  him,  even  our  love  lo  each  olher.  So  will  our  profession  be 
adorned,  and  the  Son  of  man  he  farther  glorijied,  by  the  conduct 
of  his  servants  on  earth  :  so  shall  he  at  length  glorify  us  with 
himself  and  after  a  short  absence  call  us  to/o//oi«  Aim  into  those 
regions  of  p<^rfect  love  which  must  of  course  be  the  seats  of 
everlasting  joy. 

In  the  mean  time,  send  down,  O  gracious  Emmanuel,  thy 
Spiril  of  love  on  all  thy  followers;  that  we  may  no  longer  glory 
in  the  little  distinctions  of  this  or  that  pnrly,  but  may  sheio  we 
are  Christians  by  this  resplendent  ensign  of  our  order  !  May 
we  bind  it  on  our  shoulders  as  a  mark  of  honour,  and  wear  it 
as  a  crown  upon  our  heads  ;  that  the  spirit  of  hatred,  reproach, 
and  persecution  may  vanish  like  an  unwholesome  mistbel'ore 
the  sun,  and  it  may  again  be  universally  said,  as  of  old,  Behold, 
how  these  Christians  love  one  another!     Amen. 


SECTION  XCI. 

Luke  xxii.  24 — 38. 

And  there  was  also  a  strife  among  them,  which  of  them 
should  be  accounted  the  greatest.  And  he  said  unto 
them,  The  kings  of  the  Gentiles  exercise  lordship  over 
them  ;  and  they  that  exercise  authority  upon  them  are 
called  benefactors.  But  ye  shall  not  be  so  :  but  he  that 
is  greatest  among  you,  let  him  be  as  the  younger  ;  and 

30 


338  HAIiMONY    OF    THE 

he  tliat  is  chief,  as  he  tliat  doth  serve.  For  whether  is 
greater,  he  that  silteth  at  meat,  or  he  that  serveth  ?  is 
not  he  that  sitteth  at  meat  ?  but  I  am  among  vou  as  he 
that  serveth.  Ye  are  they  which  have  continued  with 
me  in  my  temptations.  "  And  I  appoint  unto  you  a 
kingdom,  as  my  Father  hatlj  appointed  unto  me;  that 
ye  may  eat  and  drink  at  my  table  in  ray  kingdom,  and 
sit  on  thrones  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 

And  the  Lord  said,  Simon,  Simon,  behold,  Satan  hath 
desired  to  have  you,  that  he  might  sift  you  as  wheat  : 
but  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not :  and 
when  thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy  bretliren.  And 
he  said  unto  him.  Lord,  I  am  ready  to  go  with  thee,  both 
into  prison,  and  t^  death.  And  he  said,  I  tell  thee, 
Peter,  the  cock  shall  not  crow  this  day,  before  that  thou 
shalt  thrice  deny  that  thou  knowest  me. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  When  I  sent  you  without 
purse,  and  script,  and  shoes,  lacked  ye  any  thing  ;  and 
they  said,  Nothing.  Then  said  he  unto  them.  But  now, 
he  that  hath  a  purse,  let  him  take  if,  and  likewise  his 
script :  and  he  that  hath  no  sword >  let  him  sell  his  gar- 
ment, and  buy  one.  For  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  that 
is  written  must  yet  be  accomplished  in  me,  And  he  was 
reckoned  among  the  transgressors  :  for  the  things  con- 
cerning me  have  an  end.  And  they  said,  Lord,  behold, 
here  are  two  swoids.  And  he  said  unto  them.  It  is 
enouorh. 


What  a  mournful  reflection  is  it  that  corrupt  nature  should 
still  prevail  so  far,  even  in  the  hearts  of  such  pious  men  as  the 
apostles  in  the  main  were,  that  after  so  long  a  converse  with 
Christ  they  should  still  be  so  unlike  him,  and  bring-  their  eag^er 
contentions  about  superiority^  in  a  state  of  temporal  grandeur 
they  were  never  to  see,  into  the  last  hours  they  spent  with  their 
Master,  and  even  to  one  of  the  most  holy  and  solemn  ordinances 
of  religion !  Such  are  the  vain  dreams  of  ambition^  and  with 
such  empty  shadows  does  it  amuse  the  deluded  mind 

Who  would  not  gladly  continue  with  Christ  in  the  strictest 
fidelity,  nmidst  all  the  trials  which  can  arise,  when  he  observes 
how  liberallv  he  repays  his  servants,  and  how  graciously  he 
Beems  to  reli?h  his  own  honours  the  more  in  proportion  to  the 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  339 

degree  in  which  those  honours  are  shared  with  them ;  appoint- 
trig  them  a  glorious  kingdom,  and  erecting  thrones  (or  each  of 
them  I  And  surely,  though  the  apostles  of  the  Lamb  are  to  have 
their  peculiar  dignity  in  the  great  day  of  his  triumph,  there  is 
a  sense  in  which  he  will  perform  to  every  one  that  overcomelh 
that  yet  njure  condescending  promise,  /  inll  grant  him  to  sit 
down  with  me  on  my  throne^  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set 
down  with  my  Father  on  his  throne.  (Rev.  iii.  21.)  Let  our 
souls  in  thitt  confidence  be  strengthened  to  all  the  labours  and 
sufferings  to  wliich  he  may  call  u?  forth. 

Alas,  how  ready  are  we  to  forget  ourselves ;  and  how  much 
safer  are  we  in  Christ's  hands  than  in  our  own  !  How  frequently 
do  we  resolve  like  Peter,  and  in  how  many  instances  do  we/all 
like  him !  We  see  the  inalice  of  Satan,  and  how  eagerly  he  de- 
sired to  try  the  apostles,  and  even  to  sijt  them  as  wheat ;  we  see 
also  the  gracious  care  of  our  Redeemer,  who,  foreseeing  the  dan- 
ger of  his  servants,  laid  in  an  unsought  remedy,  to  which  they  re- 
spectively owed  their  security,  or  their  recovery. 

Let  us  rejoice  that  the  great  enen)y  is  under  such  restraints,  and 
can  have  no  power  against  us,  unless  by  permission  from  above. 
Let  us  rejoice  that  Christ  is  a  constant  and  invariable  Friend  to 
his  people  ;  and  still  appears  as  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,  and 
as  a  tender  faithful  jS/j^jriAe/vf,  watching  over  them  for  good,  while 
Satan  is  seeking  to  devour  them.  (1  Pet.  v.  8.  If  at  any  tune 
that  adversary  get  an  advantage  over  us,  let  us  endeavour  in  the 
strength  of  Divine  grace  an  immediate  recovery  ;  and  wheyi  re- 
stored, let  us  exert  ourselves  to  strengthen  our  brethren  :  for 
surely  it  is  most  reasonable  that  we,  who  are  surrounded  with 
such  various,  and  such  sensible  infirmities,  should  have  compas- 
sion on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them  that  are  out  of  the  way.  (He- 
brews v  2.) 


SECTION  XCII. 

Matt.   xxvi.  27 — 29.      Mark  xiv.   23 — 25.     Luke 
XXII.  20.     1  Cor.  xi.  25. 

Likewise  also  after  supper  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it  ; 
and  they  all  drank  of  it,  Tiiis  is  my  blood  of  the  new 
testament,  which  is  shed  for  you  and  for  many,  for  the 
remission  of  sins.  This  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in 
remembrance  of  me.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not 
drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  that  day 
when  I  drink  it  new  with  you  in  my  Father's  kingdom. 


340  HARMONY    OF    THE 

Let  us  now  review,  with  most  thankful  acknowledgment,  this 
gracious  legacy  of  our  dying  Redeemer ,  this  reviving  and  nourish- 
ing ordinance^  which  he  instituted  for  the  benefit  of  his  church 
the  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed.  (1  Cor.  xi.  23.)  So 
tenderly  did  his  love  for  them  prevail  when  his  heart  was  full  of 
his  own  sorrows  !  May  we  always  consider  to  what  purpose  this 
holy  rite  was  ordained  ;  and  as  we  shall  see  the  wisdoni  of  the 
appointment,  so  we  shall  also  be  both  awakened  to  attend  to  it, 
and  assisted  in  that  attendance  ! 

It  is  the  memorial  of  the  death  of  Christ,  by  which  we  repre- 
sent it  to  others,  and  to  ourselves.  May  we  be  ever  ready  to  give 
this  most  regular  and  acceptable  token,  that  we  are  not  ashamed 
to  fight  under  the  banner  of  a  crucified  Redeemer !  It  is  also  the 
seal  of  the  new  covenant  in  his  blood.  Let  us  adore  the  grace 
that  formed  and  ratified  that  everlasting  covenant^  so  well  ordered 
in  all  things,  and  so  sure.  (2  Samuel  xxiii.  5.)  And  whenever 
we  approach  to  this  sealing  ordinance  may  we  renew  our  con- 
sent to  the  demands  of  that  covenajit,  and  our  expectation  of  those 
blessings  which  are  conveyed  by  it !  a  consent  and  expectation  so 
well  suited  to  the  circumstance  of  its  being  ratified  by  the  blood 
of  Jesus.  Thus  may  every  attendance  nourish  our  souls  in  grace, 
and  ripen  them  for  glory  ;  that  at  length  all  may  be  fulfilled  and 
perfected  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

In  the  mean  time  may  God,  by  the  influence  of  his  Spirit,  give 
to  all  professing  Christians  right  notions  of  this  ordinance,  and  a 
due  regard  for  it;  that,  on  the  one  hand,  none  may,  under  the 
specious  pretence  of  honouring  it,  live  In  the  habitual  neglect  of 
so  plain  and  important  a  duty;  and  that,  on  the  other,  it  may 
never  he  profanely  invaded  by  those  who  have  no  concern  about 
the  blessings  of  that  covenant  it  ratifies,  and  impiously  prostitute  it 
to  those  secular  views,  above  which  it  was  intended  to  raise  them  ! 
And  may  none  that  honour  the  great  Author  of  it  encouiage  such 
an  abuse,  lest  they  seem  to  lay  the  very  cross  oj  Christ  as  the 
threshold  to  the  temple  of  those  various  idols  to  which  ambitious 
and  interested  men  are  bowing  down  their  souls  ! 


SECTION  XCIII. 
John  xiv.  1  — 14. 

Lkt  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  iu  me.  in  my  Father's  house  are  many 
mansions  :  if  it  were  not  so,  I  would  have  told  you.  I 
go  to  [)repare  a  place  for  you.    And  if  I  go  and  prepare 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  S4J 

a  place  for  you,  I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto 
myself;  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also.  And 
whither  I  go  ye  know,  and  the  way  ye  know. 

Thomas  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  we  know  not  whither 
thou  goest  :  and  how  can  we  know  the  way  ?  Jesus 
saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life  : 
no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father  but  by  me.  If  ye  had 
known  me,  ye  should  have  known  my  Father  also  :  and 
from  henceforth  ye  know  him,  and  have  seen  him. 

Philip  saith  unto  hirn,  Lord,  shew  us  the  Father  and 
it  sutficeth  us.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Have  I  been  so 
long  time  with  you,  yet  hast  Ihou  not  known  me,  Philip  1 
he  that  hath  seen  me  hafh  seen  the  Father  :  and  how 
sayest  thou  then,  Shew  us  the  Father  ?  Believcst  thou 
not  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me  ?  the 
words  that  1  speak  unto  you  I  speak  not  of  myself  :  but 
the  Father  that  dwclleth  in  me,  he  doeth  the  works. 
Believe  me  that  1  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in 
me  :  or  else  believe  me  for  the  very  work's  sake.  Ve- 
rily, verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the 
works  that  1  do  shall  he  do  also  ;  and  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do  ;  because  I  go  unto  my  Father. 
And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  1  do 
that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  If  ye  shall 
ask  any  thing  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it. 

We  see  in  the  beginning  of  this  section  that  care  of  Christ  over 
his  servants  which  may  engage  us  cheerfully  to  trust  him  for  pro- 
vidential supplies,  when  employed  in  his  work  ;  so  we  see  in  the 
remainder  of  this,  and  in  the  following  discourses,  the  most  affec- 
tionate discoveries  of  the  very  heart  of  our  blessed  Redeemer, 
overflowing  in  every  sentence  with  the  kindest  concern,  not  only 
for  the  safety  but  the  comfort  of  his  people.  We  see  a  lively  im- 
age of  that  tenderness  with  vphich  he  will  another  day  toipc  away 
all  tears  from  their  eyes.  (Rev.  vii.  17.)  Surely  when  he  uttered 
these  words  he  was  alio  solicitous  that  our  hearts  might  not  he 
troubled:  and  therefore  has  provided  a  noble  cordial,  the  strength 
of  which  shall  continue  to  the  remotest  ages,  even  faith  in  his 
Father  and  in  him.  Oh  may  that  blessed  principle  be  confirmed 
by  what  we  have  now  been  reading ! 

Let  us  observe  with  what  a  holy  familiarity  our  Lord  speaks  of 
the  regions  of  glory ;  not,  as  his  eervants  do,  like  one  dazzled  and 

30* 


3 4:2  HARMOKY    OF    THE 

overwhelmed  with  the  biightness  of  the  idea:  but  as  accustomed 
and  familiarized  to  it  by  his  high  birth.  In  ivy  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions ;  (delightful  and  reviving  thought!)  and  many- 
inhabitants  in  them,  whom  we  hope  through  grace  will  be  our 
companions  there,  and  every  one  of  them  increase  and  multiply 
the  joy. 

it  was  not  for  the  apostles  alone  that  Christ  went  to  prepare  a 
place:  he  is  entered  mio  heaven  as  our  Forerunner^  (Heb.  vi. 
20  ;)  and  we,  if  we  are  believers  indeed,  may  be  said,  by  virtue 
of  our  union  with  him,  to  sit  together  in  heavenly  places  in  him. 
(Eph,  ii.  6.)  Let  us  continually  be  tending  thither,  in  more  af- 
fectionate desires  and  more  ardent  pursuits.  IVe  know  the  way  ; 
we  hear  the  truth;  oh  may  we  also  feel  tfie  lije !  By  Christ,  as 
the  true  and  living  way,  may  we  come  to  the  Father  ;  that  we 
may  have  eternal  life,  in  knowing  him,  the  only  true  God,  and 
Jesus  Christ  whom  he  has  sent.'  (John  xvii  3.)  In  Christ  may 
we  see  him,  and  have  our  eyes  and  our  hearts  open  to  those  beams 
of  the  Divine  glory  which  are  reflected  from  the /ace  of  his  only- 
legottcn  So7i,  who  is  Jull  of  grace  and  truth  /  (John  i.  14.)  Has 
he  been  thus  discovered  to  u?,  as  our  Father,  and  our  God,  let  it 
svfi.ce  us'.  Let  it  diffuse  a  sacred  and  lasting  pleasure  over  our 
souls,  though  other  desirable  objects  may  be  veiled  or  removed; 
apiu  engage  us  to  maintain  a  contin\in\  fellowship  with  the  FatheTf 
and  With  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  1  (John  i.  3.) 

To  this  we  are  invited  by  every  declaration  of  his  readiness  to 
liear  and  answer  our  prayers  :  and  though  those  miraculous  pow- 
ers of  the  Spirit  are  ceased,  whereby  the  apostles  were  enabled 
to  equal,  or  even  to  exceed,  the  works  of  their  Master,  yet  as  we 
have  !«o  many  important  errands  to  the  throne  of  grace,  in  which 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  our  souls  is  concerned,  let 
us  come  wiih  a  holy  boldness  to  it,  in  dependence  on  Jesus,  that 
great  High  Priest  over  the  house  of  God,  who  is  passed  into  the 
heavens,  and  amidst  all  the  grandeur  ot  that  exalted  state  regards 
his  humble  followers  on  earth,  and  ever  appears  under  the  charac- 
ter of  their  Advocate  ^ud  then  Friend. 


FOUR   GOSrELS.  343 

SECTION  XCIV. 

John  xiv,  15 — 31. 

If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments.  And  I  will 
pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another  Com- 
lorter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  for  ever  ;  even  the 
Spirit  of  truth  ;  whom  the  world  cannot  receive,  be- 
cause it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him :  but  ye 
know  him  ;  for  he  dwellelh  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you.  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless  :  1  will  come  to 
you.  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  world  seeth  me  no 
more  :  but  ye  see  me  :  because  I  live,  ye  sliail  live  also. 
At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  I  arn  in  my  Father,  and 
ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  He  that  hath  my  command- 
ments, and  keepeth  theu),  he  it  is  that  loveth  me :  And 
he  that  loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father,  and  I 
Will  love  him,  and  will  manifest  myself  to  him. 

Judas  saith  unto  him,  not  Iscariot,  Lord,  how  is  it 
that  thou  wilt  manifest  thyself  unto  us,  and  not  unto  the 
world  ?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  If  a  man 
love  me,  he  will  keep  my  words  :  and  my  Father  will 
love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him.  He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth  not  my 
sayings  :  and  the  word  which  you  hear  is  not  mine, 
but  the  Father's  which  sent  me.  Tliese  things  have  1 
spoken  unto  you,  being  yet  present  with  you.  But  the 
Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father 
will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  1  have 
said  unto  you. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  : 
not  as  the  world  giveth,  give  1  unto  you.  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.  Ye  have 
heard  how  I  said  unto  you,  I  go  away,  and  come  again 
unto  you.  If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice,  because 
I  said,  I  go  unto  the  Father :  for  my  Father  is    greater 


^44  HARMONY    OF    THE 

than  I.     And  now  I  have  told  you  before  it  come  to 
pass,  that,  when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  might  believe. 

Hereafter  I  will  not  talk  much  with  you  :  for  the 
prince  of  this  world  cometh,  and  hath  nothing  in  me. 
But  that  the  world  may  know  that  I  love  the  Father  ; 
and  as  the  Father  gave  me  commandment,  even  so  I 
do.     Arise,  let  us  go  hence. 

Surely,  if  we  are  not  entirely  strangers  to  the  Divine  life,  we 
cannot  read  such  discourses  as  these  without  feeling  some  warm 
emotions  of  love  to  Christ;  and  if  indeed  we  feel  them,  lei,  us 
consider  how  they  are  to  be  expressed.  Our  Lord  directs  us  to 
do  it  in  the  most  solid  and  the  most  acceptable  manner,  by  a 
constant  care  to  keep  his  commandments ;  and  surely  such  com.' 
mandments  as  his  cannot  be  grievous  to  a  soul  that  truly  loves 
him.  (1  John  v.  3.)  The  more  we  live  in  the  practice  of 
them,  the  more  cheerfully  may  we  expect  the  abundant  commu- 
nications of  his  Spirit  to  animate  and  strengthen  us. 

If  we  are  Christians  indeed,  let  us  not,  in  any  circumstance 
of  life,  look  on  ourselves  as  helpless  and  abandoned  orphans. 
Human  friends  may  forsake  us  ;  but  Christ  will  come  to  us  ;  be 
will  manifest  himself  io  the  eye  of  faith,  though  to  the  eye  of 
sense  he  is  invisible;  and  bis  heavenly  Father  will  love  us ;  and 
watch  over  us  for  good  :  yea,  he  will  come  and  dwell  in  the  obe- 
dient soul  by  the  gracious  tokens  of  his  intimate  and  insepara- 
ble presence.  And  do  we  any  of  us  experience  this?  We  have 
•surely  reason  to  say  that  by  way  of  admiration  which  the  apos- 
tle said  by  way  of  inquiry.  Lord,  how,  and  whence  is  it  that 
thou  wilt  manifest  thyself  to  us,  and  not  to  the  world  I  What 
have  we  done  to  deserve  these  gracious  and  distinguishing  mani- 
festations? Nay,  how  much  have  we  done  to  forfeit  them  I 
even  more  than  many,  from  whom  they  are  withheld  ! 

With  unutterable  joy  let  us  review  this  rich  legacy  of  our 
dying  Lord :  peace  I  leave  with  you.,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you. 
Lord,  evermore  give  us  this  peace  with  God,  and  with  our  own 
consciences!  for  if  thou  wi\i give  quietness,  who  can  make  trou- 
ble.^ (Job  xxxiv.  29.)  How  serenely  may  we  then  pass 
through  the  most  turbulent  scenes  of  life,  when  all  is  quiet 
and  harmonious  within?  Thou  hast  made  peace  through  the 
blood  of  thy  cross,  (Col.  i.  20;)  may  we  preserve  the  precious 
purchase  and  inestimable  gift  inviolate,  till  it  issue  in  everlast- 
ing peace!  In  this  let  our  hearts  be  encouraged;  in  this  let 
them  rejoice ;  and  not  in  our  own  happiness  alone,  but  also  in 
that  of  our  own  glorified  and  exalted  Redeemer.  As  the  mem- 
bers  of  his  body,  we  ought  certainly  to  maintain   a  pleasing 


POUR    GOSPELS.  345 

sympathy  with  our  Head,  and  to  triumph  in  his  honour  and 
felicity  as  our  own.  If  we  love  Christ,  we  should  rejoice,  becau$e 
he  IS  gone  to  the  Fathtr.  And  the  same  consideration  may  in  its 
de;^iee  comfort  us  when  our  pious  Iriends  are  removed:  if  we 
love  them  with  a  rational  and  generous  frieudi'hip.  and  are  not 
too  much  influenced  by  selfish  afieclions  under  that  specious 
nane,  our  joy  for  theii  exaltation  will  greatly  temper  the  sorrow 
which  our  loss  must  give  us. 

Our  Lord  uttered  these  words  in  the  near  views  of  a  grievous 
assault  from  the  prince  of  this  world,  who  is  the  prince  of  dark- 
ness ;  but  there  was  no  corruption  in  him  to  take  part  with  the 
enemy.  Too  much,  alas,  does  he  find  in  us  to  abet  hi?  temp- 
tations :  l;^t  us  earnestly  pray  that  the  grace  of  Christ  may  be 
sujfficienl  for  as ;  and  that  as  liis  love  to  the  Father  engaged  him 
to  go  through  tins  painlul  conflict  with  the  tempter,  his  love  to 
us  may  make  us  partakers  of  his  victory^  In  his  name  let  us 
»et  up  our  banners  ;  and  i\\e  powers  of  ^eW  shall  flee  before  us. 


SECTION  XCV. 

JOKN    XV.     1 11. 

I  AM  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husbandman. 
Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit  he  takeUi 
away  :  and  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  purgeth 
it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit.  Now^  ye  are  clean 
through  the  word  which  1  have  spoken  unto  you.  Abide 
in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit 
of  itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine  ;  no  more  can  ye, 
except  ye  abide  in  me.  J  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches  :  he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same 
bringeth  forth  much  fruit  :  for  without  me  ye  can  do 
nothing.  If  a  man  abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a 
branch,  and  is  withered  ;  and  men  gather  them,  and 
cast  themmXo  the  fire,  and  they  are  burned.  If  ye  abide 
in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye 
will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you.  Herein  is  my  Father 
glorified  that  ye  bear  much  fruit ;  so  shall  ye  be  my  disci- 
ples.  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I  loved  you : 


346  HARMONY    OF    THE 

continue  ye  in  my  love.  If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye 
shall  abide  in  my  love  ;  even  as  I  have  kept  my  Father's 
commandments,  and  abide  in  his  love. 

These  things  have  1  spoken  unto  you,  that  my  joy 
might  remain  in  you,  and  (hat  your  joy  might  be  full. 

How  desirable  it  is  that  we  may  learn  from  this  discourse  to 
regard  Christ,  at  all  times,  as  the  spiritual  Head,  from  whom 
life  and  vigour  are  to  be  derived  to  all  his  people  !  Let  us  by 
the  exercise  of  an  unfeigned  faith  abide  in  him  as  the  true  vine  ; 
as  being  always  sensible  that  without  him  ive  can  do  nothing ; 
and  that  if  we  are  in  him  only  by  an  external  profession,  we 
are  not  only  in  danger  of  being  cut  off,  and  taken  away,  but 
shall  in  the  end  be  cast  into  the  Jire.  May  we  rather  be  purged 
and  pruned,  though  it  should  be  with  the  most  painful  dispen- 
sations of  providence ;  if  by  this  means  o\xr  fruilfulness  may  be 
promoted  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  to  the  benefit  of  the  world  ! 
May  his  word  operate  daily  upon  us,  to  cleanse  us  from  remain- 
ing pollutions  !  and  if  we  thus  desire  to  be  clean,  \ei  na  take 
heed  to  our  way,  according  to  the  tenor  of  that  word.  (Psalm 
cxix.  9  ) 

We  see  our  encouragement  to  pray ;  let  us  take  it  from  Chrisl, 
and  not  be  dismayed,  nor  yield  to  unbelieving  suspicions,  jis 
the  Father  has  loved  Christ,  so  does  he  also  love  his  people.  Let 
us  preserve  and  cultivate  this  sacred  friendship  ;  and,  whatever 
it  may  cost  us,  let  us  endeavour  to  continue  in  his  love,  and  to 
avoid  whatever  would  forfeit  it  ;  making  it  above  all  things  our 
care  to  ketp  his  commandments.  Christ  always  observing  thoi^e 
of  his  heavenly  Father,  cannot  but  always  and  invariably  con- 
tinue the  object  of  his  love  and  delight  :  may  our  conduct  be 
such  as  that  he  may  see  reason  to  rejoice  in  us !  and  then  we 
shall  also  have  the  surest  foundation  for  a  sublime  and  solid /o^. 


SECTION  XCVI. 

John  xv.  12 — 27. 

This  is  my  commandment,  that  ye  love  one  another,  as 
I  have  loved  you.  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this, 
that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends.  Ye  are  my 
friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you.     Hence- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  347 

forth  I  call  you  not  servants  ;  for  the  servant  knoweth 
not  what  his  lord  doeth  :  but  I  liave  called  you  friends  ; 
for  all  things  that  1  have  heard  of  my  Father  I  have  made 
known  unto  you.  Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  1  have 
chosen  you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye  should  go  and 
bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit  should  remain  :  that 
whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he 
may  give  it  you. 

These  things  I  command  you,  that  ye  love  one  another. 
If  the  world  hate  you,  ye  know  that  it  hated  me  before  it 
hated  you.  If  ye  were  of  the  world,  tiio  world  would 
love  his  own  :  but  because  ye  are  not  of  the  world,  but 
1  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  world,  therefore  the  world 
hateth  you.  Remember  the  word  that  I  said  unto  you, 
the  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  lord.  If  they  have 
persecuted  me,  they  will  also  persecute  you  :  if  they 
have  kept  my  saying,  they  will  keep  yours  also.  But  all 
these  things  they  do  unto  you  for  my  names'  sake,  because 
they  know  not  him  that  sent  me.  If  I  had  not  come 
and  spoken  unto  them,  they  had  not  had  sin  :  but  now 
they  have  no  cloak  for  their  sin.  Ho  that  hateth  me 
hateth  my  Father  also. — If  I  had  not  done  among  them 
the  works  which  none  other  man  did,  they  had  not  had 
sin  :  but  now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated  both  me 
and  my  Father.  But  this  cometh  to  pass,  that  the  word 
might  be  fulfilled  that  is  written  in  their  law,  They  hated 
me  without  a  cause.  But  when  the  Comforter  is  come, 
whom  I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even  the 
Spirit  of  truth,  which  proceedeth  from  the  Father  he 
shall  testify  of  me  :  And  ye  also  shall  bear  witness 
because  ye  have  been  with  me  from  the  beginning. 

The  Son  of  God  condescends  to  speak  under  the  character 
of  a  Friend  :  and  with  what  humble  gratitude  should  we  attend 
to  his  words!  He  lays  aside  the  majesty  of  a  sovereign  to  as- 
Butue  this  more  tender  relation;  and  surely  our  overflowing 
hearts  must  inquire,  blessed  Jesui,  what  shall  we  do  to  express 
the  friendship  on  our  side  ?  Let  us  observe  what  he  has  here 
declared.  Ye  are  my  friends  indeed,  if  ye  do  whatever  command 
J  you.     Lord,  we  will  run  the  way  of  these  thy  commandments, 


348  HARMONY    OP    THE 

whtn  on  this  noblesL  principle  thou  shall  enlarge  our  hearts 
(Psalm  cxix.  32.) 

He  has  loved  us  with  an  unexampled  affection,  which  has  ap- 
proved iiieM stronger  than,  death;  and,  in  return  he  requires  us 
to  love  one  another.  How  gracious  a  command!  How  nierciful 
to  our  fellow-creatures  and  to  ourselves,  who  should  infallibly 
feel  the  benefit  of  the  practice  of  it,  both  in  the  delight  insepa- 
rable from  benevolent  affections,  and  in  the  circulation  of  kind 
and  friendly  ufficea,  which,  degenerate  as  human  nature  is,  few 
are  so  abandoned  as  not  to  endeavour  to  repay  !  Who  would 
not  imagine  that  the  whole  world  should  feel  and  obey  the 
charm  ?  And  yet,  instead  of  this,  behold,  \hey  hate  Christ,  and 
his  servants/or  his  sake,  though  without  a  cawse,  and  against  the 
strongest  engagements.  Miserable  creatures!  who  by  a  neces- 
sary consequence,  whatever  they  may  fondly  imagine,  hate  the 
Father  also, and  stand  daily  and  hourly  exposed  to  all  the  dread- 
ful terrors  of  an  almighty  enemy. 

Let  us  not  wonder  if  the  world  hate  us  ;  nor  greatly  regard  it 
if  it  injure  us.  We  are  not  of  the  world,  nor  is  the  servant  greater 
than  his  lord:  but  surely  the  opposition  which  the  gospel  brings 
along  with  it,  is  nothing  when  compared  with  those  blessings 
which  it  entails  on  all  who  Aiithfully  embrace  it.  Were  the 
sufferings  and  difficulties  a  thousand  times  greater  than  they  are, 
we  ought  to  esteem  the  Pearl  0/ price,  the  most  happy  purchase 
at  any  rate,  and  to  be  be  daily  returning  our  most  thankful  ac- 
knowledgments that  Christ  sent  forth  his  «/70A7Ze5.  quaUfied  with 
such  a  knowledge  of  himself,  and  assisted  by  such  power  from 
his  Spini,  appointing  them  logo  and  bring  forth  fruit,  evei\  fruit 
which  should  remain  to  the  remotest  ages.  Through  his  guar- 
dian care  it  still  remains  in  the  world:  Oh  may  it  flourish  more 
abundantly  among  us!  and  may  its  efficacy  on  our  hearts  and 
lives  be  more  apparent !  And  may  Divine  grace  convince  those 
who  now  reject  and  oppose  it,  that  in  the  midst  of  such  various 
evidence  of  his  having  come  and  spoken  to  them,  they  have  no 
cloak  for  their  sin!  but  with  whatever  fond  excuses  they  may 
amuse  themselves  and  others,  it  will  quickly  appear,  that  the 
bed  is  too  short  to  stretch  themselves  on  it,  and  the  covering  too 
narrow  to  wrap  themselves  in.     (Isa.  xxviii.  20.) 


POUR  GOSPELS.  34!) 

SECTION    XCVII. 

John  xvi.   1 — 15. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  ye  should 
not  be  offended.  They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  syna- 
gogues ;  yea,  the  time  conneth,  that  whosoever  killeth 
you  will  think  that  he  doeth  God  service.  And  these 
things  will  they  do  unto  you,  because  they  have  not  known 
the  Father,  nor  ine. — But  these  things  have  I  told  you, 
that  when  the  time  shall  come,  ye  may  remember  that 
I  told  you  of  them.  And  these  things  I  said  not  unto 
you  at  the  beginning,  because  I  was  with  you.  But  now 
I  go  my  way  to  him  that  sent  me  ;  and  none  of  you  ask- 
eth  me,  Whither  goest  thou  ?  But  because  I  have  said 
these  things  unto  you,  sorrow  hath  filled  your  heart. 
Nevertheless  I  tell  you  the  truth  ;  it  is  expedient  for  you 
that  I  go  away  :  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will 
not  come  unto  you  :  but  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  him  unto 
you.  And  when  he  is  come,  he  will  reprove  the  world 
of  sin,  and  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment  :  of  sin, 
because  they  believe  not  on  me  ;  of  righteousness,  be- 
cause T  go  to  my  Father,  and  ye  see  me  no  more  ;  of 
judgment,  because  the  prince  of  this  world  is  judged. 

I  have  yet  many  things  to  say  unto  you,  but  ye  can- 
not bear  them  now.  Howbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of 
truth,  is  come,  he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth  ;  for  he 
shall  not  speak  of  himself;  but  w'hatsoever  he  shall  hear, 
that  shall  he  speak :  and  he  will  shew  you  things  to 
come.  He  shall  glorify  me  :  for  he  shall  receive  of  mine, 
and  shall  shew  it  unto  you.  All  things  that  the  Father 
hath  are  mine:  therefore  said  1,  that  he  shall  take  of 
mine,  and  shall  shew  it  unto  you. 

How  great  is  tlie  ignorance  and  folly  of  them  that  persecute 
their  brethren  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  kill  his  dear  children 
under  the  pretence  of  offering  him  an  acceptable  sacrifice!  Thus 

31 


350  HARMONY    OP    THE 

were  the  apostles  treated  by  those  that  knew  not  the  God  for 
whom  they  professed  all  this  burning  zeal.  Let  us  blesa  God 
that  we  are  providentially  sheltered  from  those  effects  of  it 
which  might  otherwise  bear  so  hard  upon  us:  and  let  us  dili- 
gently watch  over  our  hearts,  that  no  irregular  affections  may 
work  there,  and  no  uncharitable  sentiments  be  harboured. 
When,  like  the  apostles,  our  hearts  AreJiUed  tvith  sorrow,  let  us 
be  cautious  that  they  may  not  be  stupijied  by  it,  so  that  any  call 
of  duty  should  pass  unheard  or  any  opportunity  of  religious  ad- 
vancement unimproved;  and  let  us  not  be  indolent  in  our  in- 
quiries  into  the  meaning  of  those  dispensations  v/hich  we  do  not 
understand  ;  but  seriously  consider  whether  we  are  not  sorrow- 
ful for  that  which  is  indeed  designed  for  our  advantage^  and  in 
the  issue  will  be  matter  of  rejoicing  to  us. 

We  hear  to  what  purposes  the  Comforter  was  sent.  His  com- 
ing was  designed  in  a  peculiar  manner  for  the  advantage  of  the 
apostles  ;  and  was  of  greater  service  to  them  than  the  continu- 
ance of  Christ^s  presence  with  them  in  the  body  would  have 
been,  not  only  to  support  and  comfort  them  under  all  their  trials, 
but  to  acquaint  them  with  all  necessary  truth,  and  fully  to  in- 
struct them  in  the  mysteries  of  godliness.  And  he  came  also  for 
the  conviction  of  an  apostate  world  ;  for  the  important  errand  he 
was  sent  upon  was  toawaken  men's  minds,  and  to  convince  them 
of  their  own  guilt,  and  of  Christ's  righteousness,  and  of  that 
awful  judgment  which  should  be  executed  on  the  most  invete- 
rate of  his  enemies.  Let  us  often  think  of  the  force  of  the  Spi- 
ril's  testimony  to  the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  endeavour  to 
understand  it  in  all  its  extent.  Let  us  bless  God  that  the  gospel, 
iind  the  character  of  his  Son,  were  thus  vindicated  ;  and  rejoice 
in  the  views  of  that  complete  conquest,  to  which  Satan  is 
already  adjudged.  In  the  mean  time  let  us  earnestly  pray  that 
the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  may  be  communicated  to  us  in 
such  a  manner  that  Christ  may  he  glorified  in  us,  and  we  in 
him  ;  and  that  the  things  of  Christ  may  be  taken,  and  shewn  to 
us  by  that  Spirit ;  for  it  can  only  be  done  by  means  of  his  in- 
fluence and  operations. 


SECTION  XCVIil. 

John  xvi.  16 — 33. 

A  LITTLE  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me  :  and  again,  a 
little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me,  because  I  go  to  the 
Father.     Then  said  some  of  his  disciples  among  them- 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  361 

selves,  what  is  that  he  saith  unto  us,  A  little  while,  and 
ye  shall  not  see  me :  and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall 
see  me  :  and,  Because  I  go  to  the  Father  ?  They  said 
therefore,  What  is  this  that  he  saith,  A  little  while  ?  we 
cannot  tell  what  he  saith.  Now  Jesus  knew  that  they 
were  desirous  to  ask  him,  and  said  unto  them,  Do  ye 
inquire  among  yourselves  of  that  I  said,  A  little  while, 
and  ye  shall  not  see  me  :  and  again,  a  little  while,  and 
ye  shall  see  me  ?  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  ye 
shall  weep  and  lament,  but  the  world  shall  rejoice  :  and  ye 
shall  be  sorrowful,  but  your  sorrow  shall  be  turned  into 
joy. 

A  woman  when  she  is  in  travail  hath  sorrow,  because 
her  hour  is  come  :  but  as  soon  as  she  is  delivered  of  the 
child,  she  remembereth  no  more  the  anguish,  for  joy 
that  a  man  is  born  into  the  world. — And  ye  now  there- 
fore have  sorrow  :  but  I  will  see  you  again,  and  your 
heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy  no  man  taketh  from 
you.  And  in  that  day  ye  shall  ask  me  nothing.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father 
in  my  name,  he  will  give  it  you.  Hitherto  have  ye  ask- 
ed nothing  in  my  name  :  ask,  and  ye  shall  receive, 
that  your  joy  may  be  full. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you  in  proverbs  : 
but  the  time  comelh,  when  I  shall  no  more  speak  unto 
you  in  proverbs,  but  1  shall  shew  you  plainly  of  the 
Father.  At  that  day  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name :  and  I 
say  unto  you,  that  I  will  pray  the  Father  for  you  :  for 
the  Father  himself  loveth  you,  because  ye  have  loved 
rae,  and  have  believed  that  I  came  out  from  God.  I 
came  forth  from  the  Father,  and  am  come  into  the  world  : 
again,  I  leave  the  world,  and  go  to  the  Father.  His 
disciples  said  unto  him,  Lo,  now  thou  speakest  plainly, 
and  speakest  no  proverb.  Now  are  we  sure  that  thou 
knowest  all  things,  and  needest  not  that  any  man  should 
ask  thee  :  by  this  we  believe  that  thou  camest  forth  from 
God.  Jesus  answered  them,  Do  ye  now  believe  ?  Be- 
hold, the  hour  cometh,  yea,  is  now  come,  that  ye  shall 
be  scattered,  every  man  to  his  own,  and  shall  leave  me 


352 


HARMONY    OF    THE 


alone  :  and  yet  I  am  not  alone,  because  the  Father  is  with 
me.  These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me 
ye  might  liave  peace.  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribu- 
lation :  but  he  of  i^ood  cheer  ;  I  have  overcome  the 
world. 


We  are,  perhaps, often  regretting  the  absence  of  Christ,  and 
looking  back  with  emulation  on  the  happier  lot  of  those  who 
conversed  with  him  on  earth  in  the  days  of  his  flesh:  but  if  we 
are  true  believers  in  an  unsetn  Jesus^  it  is  but  a  Utile  nhile  and 
ue  shall  also  see  him;  for  he  is  gone  to  the  Father,  and  will  so 
successfully  negociate  our  affairs  there,  that  whatever  our  pre- 
sent difficulties  and  sorrows  are,  they  shall  end  more  happily 
than  those  of  a  icoman,  who  after  all  the  pangs  and  throes  of 
her  labour,  through  the  merciful  interposition  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, is  made  ihe  Joyful  mother  of  a  living  child. 

In  the  mean  time,  we  have  surely  no  reason  to  envy  the 
world  lis  Joys  and  triumphs;  alas,  its  season  o{  ueeping  will 
quickly  come  ?  But  our  lamentations  are  soon  to  be  turned 
into  songs  of  praise  and  our  hearts  to  be  filled  with  that  solid, 
sacred  and  pecuViar  Joy,  which,  being  the  gift  of  Christ,  can 
never  be  taken  auay. 

While  we  are  in  this  state  of  distance  and  darkness,  let  us 
rejoice  that  we  have  access  to  the  throne  of  grace  through  the 
prevailing  name  of  Christ.  Let  us  come  thither  with  holy 
courage  and  confidence,  and  ask  that  we  may  receive;  and  so 
our  Joy  may  be  full.  With  wbat  pleasure  may  we  daily  renew 
our  visi*'=;  to  that  throne,  before  which  Jesus  stands  as  an  Inter- 
cessor; to  that  throne,  which  is  possessed  by  the  Father,  who 
himself  lovtth  us,  and  answers  with  readiness  and  delight  those 
petitions  which  are  thus  recommended  I  May  our  faith  in 
Christ,  and  our  love  to  him,  be  still  on  the  increasing  hand  ;  and 
our  supplications  will  be  more  and  more  acceptable  to  him, 
whose  loving-kindness  is  better  than  life  !     (Psalm  Jxiii.  3.) 

Surely  we  shall  be  frequently  reviewing  these  gracious  afw- 
courses  which  Christ  has  bequeathed  us  as  an  invaluable  legacy. 
May  they  dwell  with  us  in  all  our  solitude,  and  comfort  U3  in 
every  distress!  We  shall  have  no  reason  to  wonder  if  human 
friendship  be  sometimes  false,  and  always  precarious  :  the  dis- 
ciples of  Christ  were  scattered  in  the  day  of  his  extremity,  and 
left  him  alone,  when  they  were  under  the  highest  obligations  to 
have  adhered  to  him  with  the  most  inviolable  fidelity.  May 
we  but  be  able  like  him  to  say,  that  our  Father  is  with  us ; 
and  that  delightful  converse  with  God,  which  we  may  enjoy  in 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  363 

cur  most  solitary  moments,  will  be  a  thousand  times  more  than 
an  equivalent  for  whatsoever  we  lose  in  the  creatures.  In  the 
tcorld  we  must  indeed  have  tribulation ;  and  he  that  has  appoint- 
ed it  for  us,  knows  that  it  is  fit  we  should  :  but  since  Jesus, 
the  Captain  of  our  salvation,  who  was  made  perfect  through  suf- 
ferings, has  overcome  the  world,  and  disarmed  it ;  let  us  seek 
that  peace  which  he  has  established,  and  press  on  with  a  cheer- 
ful assurance,  that  the  least  of  his  followers  shall  share  in  the 
honours  and  benefits  of  his  victory. 


SECTION  XCIX. 

JOH.V    XVII.    1 12. 

These  vv^ords  spake  Jesus,  and  lifted  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  and  said,  Father,  the  hour  is  come  :  glorify 
thy  Son,  that  thy  Son  also  may  glorify  thee  :  as  thou 
hast  given  him  power  over  all  flesh,  that  he  should  give 
eternal  life  to  as  many  as  thou  hast  given  him.  And 
this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might  know  thee,  the  only 
true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou  hast  sent.  I 
I  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth  :  1  have  finished  the 
work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do.  And  now,  O 
Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own  self,  with  the 
glory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was. 

I  have  manifested  thy  name  unto  the  men  which 
thou  gavest  me  out  of  the  world  :  thine  they  were,  and 
thou  gavest  them  me  ;  and  they  have  kept  thy  word. 
Now  they  have  known  that  all  things  whatsoever  thou 
hast  given  me  are  of  thee.  For  I  have  given  unto 
them  the  words  which  thou  gavest  me  ;  and  they  have 
received  them,  and  have  known  surely  that  1  came  out 
t>om  thee,  and  they  have  believed  that  thou  didst  send 
me. 

I  pray  for  them  :  I  pray  not  for  the  world,  but  for 
them  which  thou  hast  given  me  ;  for  they  are  thine. 
And  all  mine  are  thine,  and  thine  are  mine  ;  and  I  am 
glorified   in  them.     And   now  I  am  no  more  in  the 

31* 


354  HARMONY    OF   THE 

v/orld,  but  these  are  in  the  world,  and  I  come  to  thee. 
Holy  Father,  keep  through  thine  own  name  those 
whom  thou  hast  given  me,  that  they  may  be  one,  as  we 
are. 

While  I  was  with  them  in  the  world,  I  kept  them  in 
thy  name :  those  that  thou  gavest  me  I  have  kept,  and 
none  of  them  is  lost,  but  the  son  of  perdition  ;  that  the 
scripture  might  be  fulfilled. 

With  pleasure  let  us  behold  our  gracious  Redeerx>Ar  in  this 
posture  of  humble  adoration  ;  lifting  up  his  eyes  io  God  with 
solemii  devotion,  and  pouring  out  his  pious  and  benevolent 
Spirit  in  those  Divine  breathings  which  are  here  recorded. 
From  his  example,  let  us  learn  io  pray  ;  und  from  his  inter- 
cession, to  hope.  We  know  that  the  Father  heartth  him  always 
(John  xi.  42;)  and  singularly  did  he  manifest  that  he  heard 
him  now,  by  all  that  bright  assemblage  of  glories  vi^hich  shone 
around  him  in  the  concluding  scenes  of  his  abode  on  earth,  and 
in  those  that  attended  his  removal  from  it:  and  in  all  this  too 
did  the  blessed  Jesus  manifest  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of  the  Fa- 
ther. May  we  emulate  that  holy  temper!  and  when  we  pray 
even  for  our  own  consummnic  happiness  in  the  heavenly  world, 
may  we  consider  it  as  ultimately  centering  in  the  honour  and 
service  of  Gcd  ! 

Well  may  we  be  encouraged  to  hope  for  that  happiness, 
since  Christ  has  an  universal  power  over  all  fleshy  and  over  spi- 
rits superior  to  those  that  dwell  in  flesh;  with  which  he  is 
invested  on  purpose  that  he  may  accomplish  the  salvation  of 
those  whom  the  Father  has  given  him,  even  of  every  true  be- 
liever. We  see  the  certain  way  to  this  life,  even  the  knowledge 
of  God  in  Christ:  let  us  bless  God,  that  we  enjoy  so  many  op- 
portunities of  obtaining  it ;  and  earnestly  pray  that  he  who 
com,nand(d  the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  would  by  his 
Divine  rays  shine  forth  on  our  benighted  souls  ;  and  so  animate 
us  in  his  service,  from  the  noblest  principles  of  gratitude  and 
love,  that  we  may  be  able  to  say,  even  in  our  dying  moments, 
with  jomewhat  of  the  same  Spirit  which  our  Lord  expressed, 
Father,  we  have  glorified  thee  on  earth,  and  finished  the  work 
which  thou  gavest  us  to  do  ;  and  therefore,  being  no  more  in  the 
world,  we  come  unto  thee.  Then  may  we  hope,  in  our  humble 
degree,  to  partake  of  that  glory  to  which  he  is  returned,  and 
to  sit  down  with  him  on  his  victorious  throne. 

Tn  the  mean  time  may  our /ai7/i  see,  and  oar  gca/ confess, 
Christ!  May  we  acknowledge  his  Divine  authority,  as  having 
come  out  from  the  Father  ;  may  we  be  united  in  love  to  him, 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  365 

and  to  eeich  other;  and  be  kept  by  that  Divine  word  which  >» 
the  security  of  his  people,  that  none  of  them  shall  be  lost!  Let 
the  ton  of  perdition,  who  perished  even  from  among  the  apos- 
tles,  teach  us  an  humble  jealousy  over  our  own  hearts,  what- 
ever external  privileges  we  enjoy  ;  and  engage  us  to  maintain 
a  continual  regard  to  him  who  is  able  to  keep  us  from  falling, 
and  to  present  us  faullless  before  (he  presence  of  his  glory  tcith 
exceeding  joy  I     (Jude  ver.  24.) 


SECTION  C. 


John  xvn.  13 — 26. 

And  now  come  I  to  thee  ;  and  these  things  I  speak  in 
the  world,  that  they  might  have  my  joy  fulfilled  in  them- 
selves. I  have  given  them  thy  word  ;  and  the  world 
hath  hated  them,  because  they  are  not  of  the  world, 
even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  I  pray  not  that  thou 
shouldest  take  them  out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou 
shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil.  They  are  not  of 
the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  Sanctify 
them  through  thy  truth  :  Thy  word  is  truth. 

As  thou  hast  sent  me  into  the  world,  even  so  have  I 
also  sent  them  into  the  world.  And  for  their  sakes  I 
sanctify  myself,  that  they  also  might  be  sanctified 
through  the  truth. 

Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for  them  also 
which  shall  believe  on  me  through  their  word  ;  that  they 
all  may  be  one  ;  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in 
thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us  :  that  the  world 
may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  the  glory 
which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them  ;  that  they  may 
be  one,  even  as  we  are  one  :  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me, 
that  they  may  be  made  perfect  in  one  ;  and  that  the 
world  may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  hast  loved 
them,  as  thou  hast  loved  me. 

Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast  given 
me,  be  with  me  where  I  am  ;  that  they  may  behold  my 


3^56  HARMONY    OF    THE 

glory,  which  thou  hast  given  me :  for  thou  lovedst  me 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

O  righteous  Father,  the  world  hath  not  known  thee  ; 
but  I  have  known  thee,  and  these  have  known  that  thou 
hast  sent  me.  And  I  have  declared  unto  them  thy 
name,  and  will  declare  it :  that  the  love  wherewith  thou 
hast  loved  me  may  be  in  them,  and  I  in  them. 

We  have  indeed  perpetual  reason  of  thankfulness  that  our  gra- 
cious Redeemer  spake  these  words  in  the  world,  and  recalled  them 
thus  exactly  to  the  memory  of  his  beloved  disciple  so  many  years 
after,  that  we  in  the  most  distant  ages  of  his  church  might,  by  re- 
viewing them,  have  his  joy  fulfilled  in  us.  Let  us  with  pleasure 
recollect  that  those  petitions  which  Christ  offered  for  his  apostles 
were  expressly  declared  not  to  be  intended  for  them  alone  ;  but 
so  far  as  circumstances  should  agree, /or  all  that  should  believe  on 
him  through  their  word,  and  therefore /or  us,  if  we  are  real,  and 
not  merely  nominal  believers.  For  us  doth  he  stiW  pray,  not  that 
God  would  immediately  take  us  out  of  the  world,  though  for  his 
sake  we  may  be  continually  hated  and  injured  in  it;  but  that  he 
would  keep  us  from  the  evil  to  which  we  are  here  exposed,  jPor 
our  sokes  did  he  also  sanctify  himself  as  a  propitiation  for  our 
sins,  that  we  might  also  be  sanctified  through  the  truth  ;  for  he 
gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  7night  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity, 
and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people  zealous  of  good  works. 
(Titus  ii.  it.) 

May  these  wise  and  gracious  purposes  of  his  love  be  fulfilled  in 
us  !  May  we  be  one  with  each  other,  and  with  him  !  May  that 
piety  and  charity  appear  in  the  whole  series  of  our  temper  and  be- 
haviour, which  may  evidently  shew  the  force  of  our  religion,  and 
reflect  a  conspicuous  honour  upon  the  great  Founder  of  it!  And 
may  all  concur  to  train  us  up  for  that  complete  felicity  above,  in 
which  all  the  purposes  of  his  love  centre  !  It  is  the  declared  will 
of  Christ,  and  let  us  never  forget  it,  that  his  people  should  be 
with  him  where  he  is,  that  they  may  behold  his  glory  which  the 
Father  has  given  him.  And  there  is  apparent  congruity,  as  well 
as  mercy  in  the  appointment :  that  where  he  is,  there  also  should 
his  servants  and  members  be.  The  blessed  angels  do  undoubtedly 
behold  the  glory  of  Christ  with  perpetual  congratulation  and  de- 
light ;  but  how  much  more  reason  shall  we  have  to  rejoice  and 
triumph  in  it  when  we  consider  it  as  the  glory  of  one  in  our  own 
nature,  the  gZory  of  our  Redeemer  and  our  Friend,  and  the  pledge 
and  security  of  our  own  everlasting  happiness !  Let  us  often  be 
lifting  up  the  eyes  of  our  faith  towards  it,  and  let  us  breathe  after 
heaven  in  this  view ;  in  the  mean  time,  with  all  due  zeal,  and  love, 
and  duty,  acknowledging  the  Father  and  the  Son,  that  the  joys 
of  heaven  may  be  anticipated  in  our  souls,  while  thx  love  of  God 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  357 

19  shed  abroad  there  by  his  Spirit,  which  is  given  unto  us  ;  even 
aomethinff  of  that  love  wherewith  he  has  loved  Jesus,  our  incarnate 
Head. 


SECTION  CI. 

Matt.  xxvi.  30—35.     Mark  xiv.  Si6 — 3J.     Luke 
xxii.  39.     John  xviii.    1. 

When  Jesus  had  spoken  these  words,  and  they  had  sung 
a  hymn,  he  went  forth  over  tlie  hrook  of  Cedron,  and 
went,  as  lie  was  wont,  to  the  mount  of  Ohves;  and  his 
disciples  also  followed  him.  Then  saith  Jesus  unto 
them,  All  ye  shall  be  offended  because  of  me  this  night : 
for  it  is  written,  I  will  smite  the  shepherd,  and  the  sheep 
of  the  flock  shall  be  scattered  abroad.  But  after  that  I 
am  risen  again  I  will  go  before  you  into  Galilee. 

But  Peter  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Though  all 
men  shall  be  offended  because  of  thee,  yet  will  I  never 
be  offended.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto 
thee,  that  this  day,  even  in  this  night,  before  (he  cock 
crow  twice,  thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice.  But  he  spake 
the  more  vehemently,  If  I  should  die  with  thee,  I  will 
not  deny  thee  in  any  wise.  Likewise  also  said  all  the 
disciples. 

So  feeble  is  the  heart  of  man,  and  yet  so  ready  to  trust  to  its 
own  strength  !  So  gracious  is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  great 
Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  soids,  who  gave  himself  to  be  smitten 
for  his  flock  when  they  had  forsaken  him  ;  and  then  returning, 
sought  them  out  again,  and  fed  them  in  richer  pastures  than  be- 
fore! 

How  reasonable  is  it  that  our  hearts  should  be  fixed  in  the  most 
inflexible  resolution  for  his  service  !  How  fit  that  we  should  every 
oneof  us  say,  \\  ith  the  utmost  determination  of  soul,  Lord,  though 
I  should  die  with  thee,  yet  will  I  not  deny  thee  I  For  how  could 
death  wear  a  more  graceful,  or  a  more  pleasing  form,  than  when 
it  met  us  close  by  our  Saviour's  side,  and  came  as  the  seal  of  our 
fidelity  to  him  ? 

Surely  this  is  the  language  of  many  of  our  hearts  before  him, 
especially  when   warmed  and  animated  by  a  sense  of  his  dying 


358  HARMOWY  OF  THE 

love  to  us.  Yet  let  its  not  be  high-minded  ;  for  Peter,  after  this 
declaration,  denied  his  Master ;  and  the  same  night  in  which 
they  had  protested  they  would  never  leave  him,  all  the  disciples 
forsook  him  and  fled.  (Matt.  xxvi.  56.)  Nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  let  the  view  of  that  frailty  discourage,  though  it  ought  to 
caution  us ;  for  the  time  came  when  each  of  them  behaved  as 
they  here  spoke ;  and  they  who  in  his  very  presence  acted  so 
weak  a  part,  through  the  influences  of  his  strengthening  Spirit, 
resisted  unto  blood,  and  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death,  for 
the  testimony  of  Jesus.     (ReV.  xii.  11.) 


SECTION  Cl[. 

Matt.  xxvi.  36—46.     Mark  xrv.  32 — 42.    Luke 
XXII.  40 — 46.     John  XVIII.  1 . 

Then  cometh  Jesus  with  them  unto  a  place  called 
Gethsemane,  where  was  a  garden,  into  the  which  he 
entered,  and  his  disciples.  And  when  he  was  at  the 
place,  he  said  unto  them,  Sit  ye  here  while  I  go  and 
pray  yonder.  And  he  took  with  him  Peter,  and  James 
and  John,  the  two  sons  of  Zebedee,  and  he  began  to  be 
sorrowful,  sore  amazed,  and  very  heavy.  Then  saith 
Jesus  unto  them,  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even 
unto  death  :  tarry  ye  here,  and  watch  with  me.  And 
he  went  a  little  farther,  and  was  withdrawn  from  them 
about  a  stone's  cast,  and  kneeled  down,  fell  on  his  face 
on  the  ground,  and  prayed  that,  if  it  were  possible,  the 
hour  might  pass  from  him.  And  he  said,  Abba,  O  my 
Father,  if  it  be  possible,  (and  all  things  are  possible  unto 
thee,)  take  away  this  cup  from  me  :  nevertheless,  not 
my  will,  but  thine,  be  done. 

And  he  cometh  unto  the  disciples,  and  firideth  them 
sleeping,  and  saith  unto  Peter,  Simon,  sleepest  thou  ? 
what,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour  ?  Watch 
and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation  ;  the  spirit 
indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak.  And  he  went 
away  again  the  second  time,  and  prayed,  saying,  O  my 
Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  away  from  me,  except 
T  drink  it,  thy  will  be  done.     And  when  he  returned. 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  369 

he  found  them  asleep  again,  (for  their  eyes  were  heavy,) 
neither  wist  they  what  to  answer  him.  And  he  left 
them,  and  went  away  again,  and  prayed  the  third  time, 
saying  the  same  words.  And  there  appeared  an  angel 
unto  him  from  heaven,  strengthening  him. 

And  being  in  agony,  he  prayed  more  earnestly  :  (with 
strong  crying  and  tears,  Heb.  v.  7,)  and  his  sweat  was 
as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the 
ground.  And  when  he  rose  up  from  prayer,  and  was 
come  the  third  time  to  his  disciples,  he  found  them 
sleeping  for  sorrow,  and  said  unto  them.  Why  sleep  ye 
now,  and  take  your  rest  ?  it  is  enough  ;  rise  and  pray, 
lest  ye  enter  into  temptation.  Behold,  the  hour  is  come, 
and  the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sinners. 
Rise  up,  let  us  go;  lo,  he  that  betray eth  me  is  at  hand. 

On  the  most  transient  survey  of  this  amazing  story  we  cannot 
but  fall  into  deep  admiration.  Whata  sightisherel  Let  our 
souls  turn  aside  to  behold  it  with  a  becoming  temper  :  and  sure- 
ly we  must  wonder  how  the  disciples  could  sleep  in  the  midst  of 
a  scene  which  might  almost  have  awakened  rocks  and  trees  to 
compassion. 

Behold  the  Prince  of  life,  God's  incarnate  and  only-begotten 
Son,  drinking  of  the  brook  in  the  tcay^  (Psalm  ex.  7  ;)  and  not 
only  tasting,  but  drawing  in  full  draughts  of  that  bitter  cup 
which  his  heavenly  Father  pni  into  his  hands  on  this  awful  occa- 
sion. Let  us  behold  him  kneeling^  and  even  prostrate  on  the 
ground,  and  there  pouring  out  his  strong  cries  and  tears  to  him 
that  was  able  lo  save  him  from  death.  (Heb.  v.  7.)  Let  us 
view  him  in  this  bloody  agony,  and  say,  If  these  things  be  done 
in  the  green  tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry?  (Luke  xxiii. 
3L)  If  even  Christ  himself  was  so  depressed  with  sorrow  and 
amasement,  and  the  distress  and  anguish  he  endured  were  such, 
that  in  his  agony  the  siceat  ran  from  him  like  great  drops  of 
blood,  when  our  iniquities  uere  laid  upon  him,  and  il  pleased 
the  Father  to  bruise  him,  and  to  put  him  to  grief,  (Isa.  liii.  6, 
10;)  how  must  the  sinner  then  be  filled  with  horror,  and  with 
what  dreadful  agonies  of  anguish  and  despair  will  he  be  over- 
whelmed, when  he  shall  bear  the  burden  of  his  own  iniquities^ 
and  God  shall j30wr  out  all  his iv rath  upon  him?  Behold, how 
fearful  a  thing  it  is  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God  ! 
(Heb.  X.  31.) 

Here  was  no  human  enemy  near  our  blessed  Redeemer ;  yet 
«uch  invisible  terrors  set  themselves  in  array  against  him,  that 


360  HARMONY   OF   THE 

his  very  soul  was  poured  out  like  water ;  nor  was  there  any  cir* 
cumstance  of  his  sufferings  in  which  he  discovered  a  greater 
commotion  of  spirit.  Nevertheless,  his  pure  and  holy  soul  bare 
all  this  without  any  irregular  perturbation-  In  all  this  he 
sinned  not  by  a  murmuring  word,  or  an  impatient  thought:  he 
shone  the  brighter  for  the  furnace  of  affliction,  and  gave  us  at 
once  the  most  wonderful  and  the  most  amiable  pattern  of  resig' 
nation  to  the  divine  disposal,  when  he  said,  Father,  not  as  I 
will^  hut  as  thou  wilt — May  this  be  our  language  under  every 
trial  !  Lord,  we  could  wish  it  was;  and  we  would  maintain  a 
holy  wntchfalness  over  onr  own  souls,  that  it  may  be  so  !  But 
in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in  every  other,  we  find  that  even 
when  the  spirit  is  witling,  thejlesh  is  weak.  How  happy  is  it 
for  us  that  the  blessed  Jesus  knows  our  frame^  and  has  learnt^ 
by  what  he  himself  suffered  in  our  frail  nature,  to  make  the 
most  compassionate  allowance  for  its  various  infirmities  !  Let 
us  learn  to  imitate  this  his  gentle  and  gracious  conduct,  even  in 
an  hour  of  so  much  distress.  Let  us  bear  with  and  let  us  pity 
each  other,  not  aggravating  every  neglect  of  our  friends  into  a 
crime;  but  rather  speaking  of  their  faults  in  the  mildest  terms, 
and  making  the  most  candid  excuses  for  what  we  cannot  defend. 
Let  us  exercise  such  a  temper,  even  in  the  most  gloomy  and 
dejected  moments  of  life;  which  surely  may  well  be  expected 
of  us,  who  ourselves  need  so  much  compassion  and  indulgence 
almost  from  every  one  with  whom  we  converse  ;  and,  which  is 
infinitely  more,  who  owe  our  all  to  the  forbearance  of  that 
God,  of  whose  mercy  it  is  that  we  are  not  utterly  consiimed. 


sKCTioN  cm. 

Matthew  XXVI.  47 — 56.     Mark  xiv.  43 — 52.    Luke 
XXII.  47 — 53.     John  xviii.  2 — 1 1. 

And  Judas  also,  which  betrayed  him,  knew  the  place: 
for  Jesus  ofttimes  resorted  thither  with  his  disciples. 

And  immediately,  while  he  yet  spake,  io,  Judas,  one 
of  the  twelve,  came,  and  with  him  a  great  multitude 
Vv^ith  swords  and  staves,  having  received  a  band  of  men 
and  officers  from  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees, 
Scribes  and  elders  of  the  people,  with  lanterns  and 
torches  and  weapons.  Jesus  therefore,  knowing  all 
things  that  should  come  upon  him,  went  forth,  and  said 
unto  them.  Whom  seek  ye  ?  They  answered  him,  Jesus 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  361 

of  Nazareth.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  And 
Judas  also,  which  betrayed  him,  stood  with  them.  As 
soon  then  as  he  had  said  unto  them,  I  am  he^  they  went 
backward,  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Then  asked  he  them 
again.  Whom  seek  ye  ?  And  they  said,  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth. Jesus  answered,  I  have  told  you  that  I  am  he;  if 
therefore  ye  seek  me,  let  these  go  their  way  :  That  the 
saying  might  be  fulfilled,  which  he  spake.  Of  them 
which  thou  gavest  me  have  I  lost  none.  Now  he  that 
betrayed  him  had  given  them  a  token,  saying.  Whom- 
soever I  shall  kiss,  that  same  is  he  ;  take  him,  hold  him 
fast,  and  lead  him  away  safely.  And  he  went  before 
them.  And  forthwith  he  came  to  Jesus,  and  said,  Ilail 
Master,  Master;  and  kissed  him.  And  Jesus  said  unto 
him,  Friend,  wherefore  art  thou  come  ?  Judas,  betrayest 
thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss  ?  Then  came  they,  and 
laid  hands  on  Jesus,  and  took  him. 

When  they  which  were  about  him  saw  what  would 
follow,  they  said  unto  him.  Lord,  shall  we  smite  with 
the  sword  :  And,  behold,  one  of  them  which  were  with 
Jesus,  Simon  Peter,  having  a  sword,  stretched  out  his 
hand,  drew  it,  and  smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  and 
cut  off'  his  right  ear.  The  servants  name  was  Mal- 
chus. 

And  Jesus  aiiswered  and  said.  Suffer  ye  thus  far. 
And  he  touched  his  ear,  and  healed  him.  Then  said  Je- 
sus unto  Peter,  Put  up  again  thy  sword  into  the  sheath  : 
for  all  they  that  take  the  sword  shall  perish  with  the 
sword.  Thinkest  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my  Fa- 
ther, and  he  shall  presently  give  me  more  than  twelve 
legions  of  angels  ?  But  how  then  shall  the  scriptures  be 
fulfilled,  that  thus  it. must  be  ?  The  cup  which  my  Fa- 
ther hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it  ? 

In  that  same  hour  said  Jesus  unto  the  chief  priests 
and  captains  of  the  temple,  and  the  elders,  and  to  the 
multitudes  which  were  come  to  him,  Are  ye  come  out 
as  against  a  thief,  with  swords  and  with  staves,  to  take 
me  ?  When  1  was  daily  with  you  in  the  temple,  teach- 
ing, ye  stretched  forth  no  hands  against  me :  but  this  is 

32 


362  HARMONY    OF    THE 

your  hour,  and  the  power  of  darkness.  But  all  this  was 
done,  that  the  scriptures  of  the  prophets  might  be  ful- 
filled. Then  all  the  disciples  forsook  him,  and  fled. 
And  there  followed  him  a  certain  young  man,  having  a 
linen  cloth  cast  about  his  naked  body ;  and  the  young 
men  laid  hold  on  him :  and  he  left  the  linen  cloth,  and 
fled  from  them  naked. 


The  heroic  behaviour  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  in  the  whole  pe- 
riod of  his  sufferings,  will  easily  make  itself  observed  by  every 
attentive  eye,  though  the  sacred  historians,  according  to  their 
usual  but  wonderful  simplicity,  make  no  encomiums  upon  it. 
With  what  composure  does  he  go  forth  to  meet  the  traitor  I 
with  what  calmness  does  he  receive  that  malignant  kiss  I  With 
what  dignity  does  he  deliver  himself  into  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies, yet  plainly  shewing  his  superiority  over  them,  and  leading 
as  it  were  even  then  captivity  captive  ! 

We  see  him  generously  capitulating  for  the  sajtty  of  his 
/»-i6nc?s,  while  he  neglected  Am  o\]on;  and  afterward,  not  only 
forbidding  all  the  defence  they  attempted  to  make,  but  curing 
that  wound  which  one  of  his  enemies  had  received  in  this  as- 
sault on  him.  With  what  meek  majesty  did  he  say,  Suffer  ye 
at  least  thus  far !  And  he  touched  his  ear^  and  healed  him.  We 
hear  his  words,  we  behold  his  actions  with  astonishment:  but 
surely  our  indignation  must  rise  within  us  when  we  see  so  amia- 
ble and  excellent  a  Person  thus  injured  and  abused  ;  when  we 
see  the  Son  of  man  betrayed  with  a  kiss  :  betrayed  by  his  intimate 
friend,  who  had  eaten  of  his  bread,  and  yet  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  him,  (John  xiii,  18,)  and  at  the  same  time  forsakenby 
all  his  disciples,  even  by  him  whom  he  most  tenderly  loved,  and 
who  had  so  often  leant  on  his  bosom.  Let  us  not  wonder  if 
some  of  OUT  friends  prove  false;  and  others  seem  to  forget  us 
when  we  have  the  greatest  need  of  their  assistance.  When 
we  deserve  so  much  less  friendship  than  Christ  did,  let  us  not 
think  it  strange  if  we  find  but  little  more.  Nor  can  we  rea- 
sonably be  so  much  amazed,  as  we  might  otherwise  have  been, 
to  see  sinners  going  on  under  the  most  awful  rebukes  of  provi- 
dence ;  when  we  consider  that  these  wretches,  who  had  been 
struck  downto  the  ground  by  one  word  of  Chrisfs  mouth,  should 
immediately  me  up  and  stretch  forth  their  impious  hands 
against  him,  to  seize  and  bind  him;  though  they  might  well 
have  known  that  they  lived  only  by  his  indulgence  and  forbear- 
ance, and  that  the  same  word  that  struck  them  down  to  the 
ground,  could  have  laid  them  dead  there.     Touch  our  hearts^  O 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  363 

Lord,  by  thy  grace ;  or  it  will  be  in  vain  that  we  are  smitten 
with  thy  rod  ! 

In  all  the  remainder  of  this  story  let  us  remember  that  Jesus 
voluntarily  g-are  himself  up  to  sufferings  which  he  circumstan- 
tially foreknew  ;  even  though  he  could  have  commanded  to  his 
assistance  whole  legions  of  angels.  His  Father''s  will  was  an  an- 
swer to  all  that  nature  could  plead  in  its  own  cause  ;  and  the 
good  hand  from  which  this  cup  of  his  severest  sufferings  came, 
reconciled  him  to  all  the  bitterest  ingredients  it  contained.  How 
reasonable  then  is  it  that  we  who,  having  had  fathers  of  our 
flesh  that  corrected  us,  submitted  to  the  rod,  and  gave  them  rever- 
ence, should  much  rather,  after  the  example  of  our  innocent  and 
holy  Redeemer,  be  in  subjection  to  the  Father  of  our  spirits,  and 
live  I     (Heb.  xii.  9.) 


SECTION  CIV. 

Matt.  xxvi.  57 — 68.     Mark  xiv.  63 — 66.     Luke 
XXII.  64,  55, 63—65.     John  xviii.  IP— 24. 

Then  the  band  and  the  captain  and  officers  of  the  Jews 
took  Jesus,  and  bound  him,  and  led  him  away  to  Annas 
first ;  for  he  was  father-in-law  to  Caiaphas,  which  was 
the  high-priest  that  same  year.  Now  Caiaphas  was  he, 
which  gave  counsel  to  the  Jews,  that  it  was  expedient 
that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people.  And  Annas 
sent  him  bound  unto  Caiaphas  the  high-priest :  and  with 
him  were  assembled  all  the  chief  priests,  and  the  elders> 
and  the  Scribes. 

And  Simon  Peter  followed  Jesus  afar  off  unto  the 
high-priest's  palace,  and  so  did  another  disciple.  That 
disciple  was  known  unto  the  high-priest,  and  went  in 
with  Jesus  into  the  palace  of  the  high-priest.  But  Pe- 
ter stood  at  the  door  without.  Then  went  out  that  other 
disciple,  which  was  known  unto  the  high-priest,  and 
spake  unto  her  that  kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Pe- 
ter- And  the  servants  and  officers  had  made  a  fire  of 
coals  in  the  midst  of  the  hall,  (for  it  was  cold  :)  and 
were  set  down  together ;  and  they  warmed  themselves  : 


364  ,  HARMONY    OF    THE 

and  Peter  sat  down  among  them  to  see  the  end  ;  and 
warmed  himself  at  the  fire. 

The  high-priest  then  asked  Jesus  of  his  disciples, 
and  of  his  doctrine.  Jesus  answered  him,  I  spake  open- 
ly to  the  world  :  I  ever  taught  in  the  synagogue,  and  in 
the  temple,  whither  the  Jews  always  resort ;  and  in  se- 
cret have  I  said  nothing.  Why  askest  thou  me  ?  ask 
them  which  heard  me,  what  I  have  said  unto  them  :  be- 
hold, they  know  what  I  said.  And  when  he  had  thus 
spoken,  one  of  the  officers  which  stood  by  struck  Jesus 
v/ith  the  palm  of  his  hand,  saying,  Answerest  thou  the 
high-priest  so  ?  Jesus  answered  him.  If  I  have  spoken 
evil,  bear  witness  of  the  evil :  but  if  well,  why  smitest 
thou  me  ?  Now  Annas  had  sent  him  bound  unto  Caia- 
phas  the  high-priest. 

Now  the  chief  priests,  and  elders,  and  all  the  council, 
sought  false  witness  against  Jesus,  to  put  him  to  death  ; 
but  found  none  :  yea,  though  many  false  witnesses  came, 
and  bear  false  witness  against  him,  yet  found  they  none  : 
for  their  witness  agreed  not  together.  At  the  last  came 
two  false  witnesses,  and  said,  We  heard  this  fellow  say, 
I  will  destroy  this  temple  that  is  made  with  hands,  and 
in  three  days  I  will  build  another  made  without  hands. 
But  neither  so  did  their  witness  agree  together.  And 
the  high-priest  stood  up  in  the  midst,  and  asked  Jesus, 
saying,  Answerest  thou  nothing  ?  what  is  it  which  these 
witness  against  thee  ?  But  Jesus  held  his  peace,  and 
answered  nothing.  Again  the  high-priest  asked  him, 
and  said  unto  him,  I  adjure  thee  by  the  living  God, 
that  thou  tell  us  whether  thou  be  the  Christ  the  Son  of 
God  the  blessed  1  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thou  hast 
said.  And  Jesus  said,  I  am  :  Nevertheless  I  say  unto 
you.  Hereafter  shall  ye  see  the  Son  of  man  sitting  on 
the  right  hand  of  power,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven.  Then  the  high-priest  rent  his  clothes,  saying, 
He  hath  spoken  blasphemy  ;  what  further  need  have  we 
of  witnesses  ?  behold,  now  ye  have  heard  his  blasphe- 
my. What  think  ye  ?  And  they  all  answered,  and  con- 
demned him,  and  said,  He  is  guilty  of  death.     Then 


FOCB    GOSPELS. 


3^)5 


did  they  spit  in  his  face,  and  buffetted  hira  ;  and  the 
men  that  held  Jesus  mocked  him,  covered  his  face,  and 
when  they  had  blindfolded  him,  they  struck  him  on  the 
face,  and  asked  him,  saying.  Prophesy  unto  us,  thou 
Christ,  who  is  he  that  smote  thee  ?  And  many  other 
things  blasphemously  spake  they  against  him  :  and  the 
servants  did  strike  him  with  the  palms  of  their  hands. 

Thus  was  the  patient  Lamb  q/"  God  surrounded  by  his  blood- 
thirsty enemies  :  Thus  did  the  dogs  encompass  him,  and  the 
strong  bulls  of  Bashan  beset  him  on  tvery  side.  (Psalm  xxii. 
12,  16.)  Thus  was  he  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter;  and 
as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumby  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth. 
(Isaiah  liii.  7,  8.)  He  was  taken  from  judgment,,  and  suffered 
the  worst  kind  of  murder,  even  that  which  had  the  appearance 
of  being  legal.  But  those  gentle  words  which  he  dropped  in 
the  midst  of  all  the  injuries  which  were  offered  him  are  surely 
worthy  ever  to  be  recorded  and  remembered.  It  had  always 
been  his  care  io  provide  things  honest  m  the  sight  of  all  men: 
and  as  he  answered  with  a  most  graceful  and  courageous  ap- 
peal to  all  that  heard  him,  as  to  the  innocence  and  usefulness  of 
his  doctrine,  so  it  is  well  worthy  our  observation  and  reflection, 
that  God  so  far  restrained  the  rage  and  malice  of  hell,  that  no 
such/a/5e  witnesses  arose  against  him,  as  could  on  the  whole 
asperse  his  character,  or  bring  it  under  any  brand  of  public  in- 
famy;  though  Judas,  a.s  well  as  others,  might  have  sought  a 
reward,  or  at  least  an  indemnity,  for  their  own  villainy,  in  ac- 
cusing him.  And  indeed  it  is  no  inconsiderable  instance  of 
God's  providential  government  of  the  world,  that  wicked  men 
are  restrained  by  this  one  remainder  of  reverence  for  the  Di- 
vine omniscience,  and  dread  of  his  vengeance,  from  destroying 
the  reputations  and  lives  of  his  children  ;  especially  in  countries 
where  (as  in  our  own)  the  punishment  which  human  laws  in- 
flict on  perjury  is  so  much  below  its  desert. 

When  i/€su5  was  examined  on  oath  he  witnessed  a  good  con- 
fession,  and  cited  those  that  were  now  his  judges  to  appear  at 
his  bar.  Nor  was  it  a  vain  boast !  The  Son  of  man  is  now 
sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  power,  and  will  ere  long  come  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven;  and  then  they  that  condemned,  and  insulted, 
and  pierced  him,  shall  mourn  because  of  him,  (Rev.  i.  7.)  May 
we  be  now  so  wise  as  to  kiss  the  Son  in  token  of  our  humble  al- 
legiance to  him,  lest  he  be  then  justly  angry  with  us ;  yea,  lest, 
we  immediately  perish  from  the  way,  when  his  wrath  is  but  be- 
ginning to  be  kindled .'     (Psalm  ii.  12.) 

32* 


3QG  HARMONY   OF   THE 


SECTION  CV. 

Matt.    xxvi.  69 — 75.     Mark.  xiv.    66 — 72.     Luke 
XXII.  56—62.     John  xvki.  17,  18,  25 — 27. 

Now  Peter  sat  without  in  the  palace  :  and  as  Peter  was 
beneath  in  the  palace,  there  cometh  one  of  the  maids 
of  the  high-priest,  the  damsel  that  kept  the  door.  And 
when  she  saw  Peter  as  he  sat  by  the  fire,  warming  him- 
self, she  earnestly  looked  upon  him,  and  said,  Art  thou 
not  also  one  of  this  man's  disciples  ?  Thou  also  wast  with 
Jesus  of  Galilee.  But  he  denied  before  them  all,  saying, 
Woman,  I  am  not,  1  know  him  not,  I  know  not,  neithrr 
understand  1  what  thou  sayest.  And  he  went  out  into  the 
porch  ;  and  the  cock  crew.  And  when  he  was  gone 
out  into  the  porch,  this  maid  saw  him  again,  and  another, 
and  said  unto  them  that  were  there,  This  fellow  was 
also  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  And  the  servants  and 
officers  stood  there,  who  had  made  a  fire  of  coals  ;  for 
it  was  cold  ;  and  they  warmed  themselves  :  and  Peter 
stood  with  them  and  warmed  himself  They  said  there- 
fore unto  him,  Art  thou  not  also  one  of  his  disciples  ? 
And  again  he  denied  with  an  oath,  I  am  not,  I  do  not 
know  the  man.  And  after  a  while,  about  the  space  of 
one  hour  after,  one  of  the  servants  of  the  high-priest,  be- 
ing his  kinsman  whose  ear  Peter  cut  oflf,  confidently  af- 
firiaeu,  saying,  Of  a  truth  ihis  fellow  was  also  with  him  ; 
for  he  is  a  Galilean.  And  he  said  to  Peter,  Did  not  1  see 
thee  in  the  garden  with  him  ?  And  they  that  stood  by  said 
unto  Peter,  Surely  thou  art  one  of  them,  for  thou  art  a 
Galilean,  and  thy  speech  bewrayeth  thee.  Peter  then 
denied  again,  and  began  to  curse  and  to  swear,  and  said, 
Man,  I  know  not  what  thou  sayest ;  I  know  not  this 
man  of  whom  ye  speak.  And  immediately,  while  he 
yet  spake,  the  second  time  the  cock  crew.  And  the 
Lord  turned,  and  looked  upon  Peter.  And  Peter  re- 
membered the  word  of  the  Lord,  how  he  had  said  unto 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  367 

him,  Before  the  cock  crow  twice,  thou  shalt  deny  me 
thrice.  And  when  he  thought  thereon,  he  went  out,  and 
wept  bitterly. 

How  loudly  does  this  affecting  story  speak  to  us  in  the  words 
of  the  apostle,  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest 
he  fall,  (1  Cor.  x.  12.)  Peter  professed  the  warmest  zeal ;  and 
gave  his  Lord  repeated  and  no  doubt,  very  sincere  assurances 
of  the  firmest  resolution  in  his  cause  I  and  yet,  except  Judas 
the  traitor,  none  of  his  brethren  fell  so  low  as  he.  But  a  few 
hours  before  he  had  been  with  Christ  at  the  sacred  table,  and 
heard  from  his  own  lips  those  gracious  discourses  which,  as 
echoed  back  from  his  word,  do  still  strike  so  strongly  on  the 
heart  of  every  true  believer.  He  had  just  seen  those  words 
remarkably,  and  even  miraculously,  verified,  that  J^e.si/j  having 
loved  his  own  that  were  in  the  world,  loved  them  to  the  end,  (John 
xiii.  1.)  How  reasonably  then  might  it  have  been  expected 
that  his  oicn  should  also  have  continued  their  most  zealous  and 
constant  affection  to  him!  But  Peter,  who,  if  possible,  was 
more  than  doubly  his  as  a  disciple,  as  an  apostle,  as  a  distin- 
guished intimate,  most  shamefully  denies  him  ;  and  that  not 
only  once,  but  a  second,  yea,  and  a  third  time,  even  with  oaths 
and  curses,  as  if  he  would  by  that  diabolical  language  give  a 
sensible  proof  that  he  did  not  belong  to  Christ:  and  who  in- 
deed, that  had  heard  it,  would  have  imagined  that  he  did? 
Nay,  to  aggravate  it  yet  farther,  it  was  done  in  the  presence  of 
the  other  disciple,  and  even  of  Christ  himself,  who  surely  was 
much  more  painfully  wounded  by  this  pevfidiousness  of  Peter 
than  by  all  the  rage  and  fury  of  his  enemies.  Lord,  what  in 
man?  What  is  our  boasted  strength  but  weakness!  and,  if  we 
are  left  unto  ourselves,  how  do  our  most  solemn  resolutions 
melt  like  snow  before  the  Bun  !  Be  thou  surely  for  thy  servants^ 
for  good.     (Psalm  cxix.  122.) 

The  Lord  turned  and  looked  upon  Peter.  So  may  he  gra- 
ciously look  upon  us  il  we  at  any  time  make  any  approach  to- 
wards the  like  sin  !  May  he  look  upon  us  with  a  glance  which 
shall  penetrate  our  hearts,  and  ca.usejioods  of  penitential  sorrow 
to  flow  forth  !  Peter  went  out,  and  wept  bitterly.  He  quitted 
that  dangerous  scene  where  temptation  had  met  and  vanquish- 
ed him  ;  and  chose  retirement  and  solitude  to  give  vent  to  his 
overflowing  soul.  Thus  may  we  recover  ourselves  ;  or  rather, 
thus  may  we  be  recovered  by  Divine  grace  from  those  slips  and 
falls  which  in  this  frail  state  we  shall  often  be  making  1  Let  us 
retire  from  the  business  and  the  snares  of  life  ;  that  we  may  at- 
tend to  the  voice  of  conscience,  and  of  God  speaking  by  it ; 
and  may  so  taste  the  wormwood  and  gall,   that  our  souls  may 


368  HARMONY    OF    THE 

long  have  them  in  remembrance.  To  conclude  ;  let  us  express 
the  sincerity  of  our  godly  sorrow  by  a  more  cautious  and  reso- 
lute guard  against  the  occasions  of  sin,  if  we  would  not  be 
found  to  trifle  with  God  when  we  pray  that  he  would  not  lead 
us  into  temptation^  but  would  deliver  us  from  evil. 


SECTION  CVI. 

Matt,  xxvii.  1 — 10.     Mark  xv.  Luke  xxii. 

66 — 71,  XXIII.  1.     John  xviii.  28. 

And  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  the  elders  of  the  people,  and 
the  chief  priests  and  the  Scribes  came  together,  led  him 
into  their  council,  saying,  Art  thou  the  Christ  ?  tell  us. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  believe  : 
And  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer  me,  nor  let  me 
go.  Hereafter  shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  power  of  God.  Then  said  they  all,  Art 
thou  then  the  Son  of  God  ?  And  he  said  unto  them, 
Ye  say  that  I  am.  And  they  said,  What  need  we  any 
further  witness  ?  for  we  ourselves  have  heard  of  his  own 
mouth. 

Matt  xxvii.  1,  2.     Mark  xv.  1.     Luke  xxiii.  1. 
John  xviii.   28. 

And  straightway  in  the  morning  all  the  chief  Priests 
held  a  consolation  with  the  elders  and  Scribes  and  the 
whole  council,  against  Jesus  to  put  him  to  death  :  And 
the  whole  multitude  of  them  arose,  and  when  they  had 
bound  Jesus,  they  led  him  away  from  Caiaphas  unto  the 
hall  of  judgment,  and  delivered  him  to  Pontius  Pilate 
the  governor  :   and  it  was  early. 

Matt,  xxvii.  3—10. 

Then  Judas  which  had  betrayed  him,  when  he  saw 
that  he  was  condemned,  repented  himself,  and  brought 
again  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  chief  priests  and 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  36 J 

elders,  saying,  I  have  sinned,  in  that  1  have  betrayd  thee 
innocent  blood.  And  they  said,  What  is  that  to  us  ? 
see  thou  to  that.  And  he  cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver 
in  (he  temple,  and  departed,  and  went  and  hanged  him- 
self; (and  falling  headlong,  he  burst  assunder  in  the 
midst,  and  all  his  bowels  gushed  out.     Acts  i    18.) 

And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver  pieces,  and  said, 
It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put  them  into  the  treasury,  because 
it  is  the  price  of  blood.  And  they  took  counsel,  and 
brought  with  them  the  potter's  field,  to  bury  strangers 
in.  Wherefore  that  field  was  called,  The  field  of  blood, 
unto  this  day.  Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken 
by  Jeremy  the  prophet,  saying,  And  they  took  the  thirty 
pieces  of  silver,  the  price  of  him  that  was  valued,  whom 
they  of  the  children  of  Israel  did  value  ;  and  gave  them 
for  the  potter's  field,  as  the  Lord  appointed  me. 


In  how  fatal  a  manner  does  the  way  of  transgresors  deceive 
them !  Judas,  no  doubt,  but  a  few  hours  befor<^,  was  thinking 
with  eager  impatience  of  receiving  this  sum  oi  money,  which  was 
the  wages  of  unrighteousness :  but  though  he  might  for  a  little 
while  roll  it  as  a  sweet  morsel  under  his  tongue,  yet  how  soon 
was  it  turned  into  the  gall  of  asps  within  him  ?  (Job  xx.  12 — 14. ) 

We  see  ihe  force  of  conscience,  even  in  the  worst  of  men.  He 
that  had  slighted  all  the  warnings  that  his  Master  gave  him,  and 
neither  was  affected  by  the  remembrance  of  his  goodness  to  him, 
nor  by  the  fear  of  his  displeasure,  while  he  was  set  upoii  accom- 
plishing his  covetous  design,  no  sooner  comes  to  teel  the  sting  of 
an  awakened  conscience,  but  he  is  filled  with  horror,  and  is  una- 
ble to  endure  the  cutting  anguish  of  his  own  reflections.  And 
thus  could  God,  in  a  moment,  drive  the  most  hardened  sinner 
into  all  the  agonies  of  remorse  and  despair,  by  letting  loose  his 
own  thoufihts  upon  him,  to  prey  upon  his  heart  like  so  many  hun- 
gry vultures,  and  make  him  a  terror  to  others,  and  an  executioner 
to  himself. 

We  must  surely  admire  the  wisdom  of  Providence,  in  extorting 
even  from  the  mouth  of  this  traitor  so  honourable  a  testimony  of 
the  innocence  of  Jesus,  though  to  his  own  condemnation.  And 
who  could  have  imagined  that  the  supreme  court  of  Israel  itself 
should  have  been  so  little  impressed  with  it,  as  coldly  to  answer, 
What  is  that  to  us  7  See  thou  to  that.  Is  this  the  language  of 
rulers,  yea.,  of  priests  ?  But  they  had  cast  off  the/ear  of  that  God 
whose  ministers  they  were,  and  had  devoted  themselves  to  gain 
and  ambition.    They  therefore  felt  no  remorse,  even  when  Judas 


370  HARMONY    OF    THE 

trembled  before  them,  and  appeared  almost  distracted  under  the 
sense  of  a  crime,  in  which  they  had  been  confederates  with  him. 
But  their  consciences  were  seared  as  with  a  red  hot  iron,  and  all 
their  familiar  converse  with  Divine  things  served  only,  in  such  a 
circumstance,  to  harden  their  hearts :  as  tempered  steel  gathers 
strength  from  the  furnace  and  the  hammer. 

Judas  repents  ;  he  confesses  his  crime ;  he  throws  away  the  re- 
ward of  his  guilt :  yet  was  there  nothing  of  godly  sorrow  in  all  this. 
Despairing,  he  becomes  his  own  executioner  ;  and  flies  to  death, 
and  to  hell,  as  a  refuge  from  the  rage  and  fury  of  an  awakened 
conscience.  Fatal  expedient !  thus  to  seal  his  own  damnation ! 
But  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  erected  him  as  a  monument 
of  wrath,  and  verified  our  Saviour's  declaration.  It  had  been  good 
for  that  man  if  he  had  never  been  horn.  (Mat.  xxvi.  24,  and  Mark 
xiv.  21.)  Tremble,  0  our  souls,  at  this  thought!  that  /i/ofas,  even 
one  of  the  twelve^  should  fall  into  such  depths  of  sin  and  ruin! 
May  we  each  of  us  be  jealous  over  ourselves  !  and  may  we  never 
presume  to  censure  whole  bodies  of  men  for  the  fault  of  particular 
members,  when  we  find  there  was  a  traitor  and  reprobate  among 
the  holy  band  of  the  apostles. 


SECTION  CVII. 

John  xviii.  28 — 40. 

And  they  themselves  went  not  into  the  judgment-hall,  lest 
they  should  be  defiled  :  but  that  they  might  eat  the  pass- 
over.  Pilate  then  went  out  unto  them,  and  said,  What 
accusation  bring  ye  against  this  man  ?  They  answered 
and  said  unto  him,  If  he  were  not  a  malefactor,  we  would 
not  have  delivered  him  up  to  thee.  Then  said  Pilate 
unto  them,  Take  ye  him  and  judge  him  according  to  your 
law.  The  Jews  therefore  said  unto  him.  It  is  not  law- 
ful for  us  to  put  any  man  to  death  :  That  the  saying  of 
Jesus  might  be  fulfilled,  which  he  spake,  signifying  what 
death  he  should  die.  Then  Pilate  entered  into  the 
judgment-hall  again,  and  called  Jesus  ;  And  Jesus  stood 
before  the  governor  ;  and  the  governor  asked  him,  say- 
ing, Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews  ?  Jesus  answered 
him,  Sayest  thou  this  of  thyself,  or  did  others  teli  it  thee 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  371 

of  me?  Pilate  answered,  Am  I  a  Jew  ?  Thine  own 
nation  and  the  chief  priests  have  delivered  thee  unto  me  : 
what  hast  thou  done  ?  Jesus  answered,  My  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world  :  If  my  kingdom  were  of  this  world, 
then  would  my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be  de- 
livered to  the  Jews  :  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not  from 
hence.  Pilate  therefore  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  a  king 
then  ?  Jesus  answered,  Thou  sayest  that  I  am  a  king. 
To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for  this  cause  came  1  into 
the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the  truth. 
Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth  my  voice-  Pilate 
saith  unto  him.  What  is  truth  ?  And  when  he  had  said 
this,  he  went  out  again  unto  the  Jews,  and  saith  unto 
them,  1  find  in  him  no  fault  at  all.  But  ye  have  a  cus- 
tom, that  I  should  release  unto  you  one  at  the  Passover : 
will  ye  therefore  that  I  release  unto  you  the  King  of  the 
Jews  ?  Then  cried  they  all  again,  saying,  Not  this  man, 
but  Barabbas.     Now  Barabbas  was  a  robber. 


How  much  exactness  in  the  ceremonials  of  religion  may  be 
found  in  those  who  have  even  the  most  outrageous  contempt  for 
its  vital  principles  and  essential  duties  !  Yea,  how  much  of  that 
exactness  may  be  made  subservient  to  the  most  mischievous  and 
diabolical  purposes !  These  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing  would  not 
enter  into  the  house  of  a  heathen,  lest  they  should  be  polluted,  and 
become  unfit  to  eat  the  passover;  yet  they  contrive  and  urge  an 
impious  murder,  which  that  very  heathen,  though  he  had  much 
less  evidence  of  ChrisVs  innocence  than  they,  could  not  be  brought 
to  permit  without  strong  reluctance,  and  a  solemn,  though  vain 
transferring-  of  the  guilt  from  himself  to  them. 

Justly  might  our  Lord  say  in  the  words  oi  David,  They  laid  to 
my  charge  things  that  I  knew  not ;  (Psal.  xxxv.  11.)  But  what 
can  defend  the  most  innocent  and  excellent  against  malicious 
slanders  and  defamations !  Or  who  can  expect,  or  even  wish, 
wholly  to  escape,  when  such  accusatioiis  are  brought  against 
Christ,  even  by  the  rulers  of  his  nation,  who  should  have  been 
men  of  distinguished  generosity  and  honour  !  But  instead  of  this 
they  were  all  an  assembly  of  murderers,  and  lay  in  icaitfor  their 
prey,  like  so  many  devouring  lions. 

Pilate  would  renew  the  examination  of  the  cause  ;  and  so  far 
he  acted  a  cautious  and  an  honourable  part.  Yet,  alas,  how  many 
that  set  out  on  such  maxims  want  courage  and  resolution  to  pur- 
sue them  !  But  the  courage  of  Christ  never  failed.   He  witnessed 


372  HARMONY    OF    THE 

before  Pontius  Pilate  the  good  confession  we  have  now  been 
reading  (1  Tim.  vi.  13 ;)  and  owned  himself  a  King,  though  at 
the  same  time  he  declared  (what  it  were  to  be  wished  all  his  fol- 
lowers had  duly  regarded)  that  his  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 
Greatly  do  we  debase  it,  if  we  imagine  it  is ;  and  most  unworthy 
is  it  of  those  that  call  themselves  the  ministers  of  his  kingdom  to 
act  as  if  they  thought  it  was.  Yet  such  is  the  wickedness  of  some, 
and  such  the  blindness  of  others,  in  the  Roman  church,  that, 
though  of  all  the  churches  in  the  world  it  is  manifestly  the  most 
secular  kingdom,  it  arrogates  to  itself  the  name  not  only  of  a  part, 
but  of  the  whole,  of  ChrisVs  kingdom  here  below. 

Christ  came  to  hear  witness  to  the  truth  ;  and  a  careful  atten- 
dance to  his  testimony  will  be  the  best  proof  we  can  give  that  we 
love  the  truth,  and  the  best  method  we  can  take  to  make  ourselves 
acquainted  with  it.  And  of  so  great  importance  is  the  truth,  that 
it  surely  deserves  the  attentive  inquiry  and  the  zealous  patronage 
of  the  greatest  and  the  busiest  of  mankind.  Let  us  not  therefore, 
when  we  begin  to  ask  what  it  is  like  Pilate,  hurry  on  to  some 
other  care  before  we  can  receive  a  satisfactory  answer ;  but  joy- 
fully open  our  minds  to  the  first  dawnings  of  that  celestial  day, 
till  it  shine  more  and  more  to  irradiate  and  adorn  all  our  souls. 
On  the  whole,  imperfect  as  the  character  of  this  unhappy  governor 
was,  let  us  learn  from  him  candidly  to  confess  the  truths  so  far  as 
we  have  discovered  i  <,  let  us  learn  more  steadily  than  he  to  vin- 
dicate the  innocent  and  worthy,  and  on  no  terms  permit  ourselves, 
in  any  degree,  to  do  harm  to  those  in  whom,  on  a  strict  and  im- 
partial inquiry,  we  can/Ind  no  fault. 


SECTION  CVIII. 
John  xix.  1  — 14. 

ThexN  Pilate  therefore  took  Jesus,  and  scourged  him; 
and  the  soldiers  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  and  put  it  on 
his  head,  and  they  put  on  him  a  purple  robe,  and  said, 
Hail,  King  of  the  Jews !  and  they  smote  him  with  their 
hands. 

Pilate  therefore  went  forth  again,  and  saith  unto  them, 
Behold,  I  bring  him  forth  to  you,  that  ye  may  know  that 
1  find  no  fault  in  him.     Then  came  Jesus  forth,  wearing 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  373 

the  crown  of  thorns,  and  the  purple  robe.  And  Pilate 
saith  unto  theni,  Behold  the  man  !  When  the  chief 
priests  therefore  and  officers  saw  him,  they  cried  out, 
saying,  Crucify  him,  crucify  him.  Pilate  saith  unto  them, 
Take  ye  him,  and  crucify  him  ;  for  I  find  no  fault  in  him. 
The  Jews  answered  him,  We  have  a  law,  and  by  our 
law  he  ought  to  die,  because  he  made  himself  the  Son 
of  God. 

When  Pilate  therefore  heard  that  saying,  he  was  the 
more  afraid  ;  and  went  again  into  the  judgment-hall, 
and  saith  unto  Jesus,  Whence,  art  thou  ?  But  Jesus, 
gave  him  no  answer.  Then  saith  Pilate  unto  him, 
Speakest  thou  not  unto  me  ?  knowest  thou  not  that  1 
have  power  to  crucify  thee,  and  have  power  to  release 
thee  ?  Jesus  answered,  Thou  couldest  have  no  power  at 
all  against  me,  except  it  were  given  thee  from  above : 
therefore  he  that  delivered  me  unto  thee  hath  the  great- 
er sin.  And  from  thenceforth  Pilate  sought  to  release 
him  :  but  the  Jews  cried  out,  saying,  If  thou  let  this 
man  go,  thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend  :  whosoever  maketh 
himself  a  kin^,  speaketh  against  Ceesar.  When  Pilate 
therefore  heard  that  saying,  he  brougiit  Jesus  forth,  and 
sat  down  in  the  judgment  seat  in  a  place  that  is  called 
the  Pavement,  but  in  the  Hebrew,  Gabbatha.  And  it 
was  the  preparation  of  the  passover,  and  about  the  sixth 
hour. 


Let  us  now,  by  a  lively  act  of  faith,  bring  forth  the  blessed 
Jesus  to  our  imagination,  as  Pilate  brought  him  forth  io  the 
people.  Let  us  with  affectionate  sympathy  survey  the  indig- 
nities, which  were  offered  him,  when  he  gave  his  hack  to  the 
smiters,  and  his  cheeks  to  them  that  plucked  off  the  hair;  and 
hid  not  his  face  from  shame  and  spitting.  (Isaiah  i.  6.)  Behold 
the  man,  wearing  his  purple  robe  and  thorny  crown.,  and  bear- 
ing the  reed  which  smote  him  in  his  right  hand  for  a  sceptre  ! 
Behold,  not  merely  the  man,  but  the  Son  of  God,  thus  vilely  de- 
graded,  thus  infamously  abused  !  Shall  we,  as  it  were,  increase 
his  sufferings,  and,  while  we  condemn  the  fury  and  cruelty  of 
the  Jews,  shall  we  crucify  him  to  ourselves  afresh,  and  put  him 
to  an  open  shame?     (Heb,  vi.  6.)     Or  shall  we  overlook  him 

33 


374  HARMONY    OF    THE 

with  slight  and  contempt,  and  hide  our  faces  from  him,  who  for 
our  sake  thus  exposed  his  own  ?     (Isa.  liii.  3.) 

Let  the  caution  even  of  this  heathen  judge\  who  feared,  when 
he  heard  he  so  much  as  pretended  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  engage 
us  to  reverence  him,  especially  considering  in  how  powerful  a 
manner  he  has  since  been  declared  to  be  so.  (Rom.  1.4.)  Let 
us  in  this  sense  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  blood  of  this  Just 
Person.  Let  his  example  teach  us  patiently  to  submit  to  those 
sufferings  which  God  shall  appoint  for  us,  remembering  that  no 
enemies,  and  no  calamities  we  meet  with,  could  have  any  power 
against  us,  except  it  were  given  them  from  above. 


SECTION  CIX. 

Matt.  XXVII.  11 — 14.     Mark  xv.  2 — 5.     Luke  xxiii. 
2 — ^16.     John  XIX.  15. 

And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying,  We  found  this 
fellow  perverting  the  nation,  and  forbidding  to  give  tri- 
bute to  Caesar,  saying,  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  King. 
And  Jesus  stood  before  the  governor  ;  and  the  gover- 
nor asked  him,  saying.  Art  thou  tiie  king  of  the  Jews  ? 
Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  Thou  sayest  it. 

And  the  chief  priests  and  elders  accused  him  of  many 
things:  but  he  answered  nothing.  And  Pilate  asked 
him  again,  saying,  Answerest  thou  nothing  ?  behold 
how  many  things  they  witness  against  thee.  But  Jesus 
yet  answered  him  to  never  a  word  ;  insomuch  that 
Pilate  the  governor  marvelled  greatly. 

Then  said  Pilate  to  the  chief  priests  and  to  the  peo- 
ple, I  find  no  fault  in  this  man.  And  they  were  the 
more  fierce,  saying.  He  stirred  up  the  people,  teaching 
throughout  all  Jewry,  beginning  from  Galilee  to  this 
place.  When  Pilate  heard  of  Galilee,  he  asked  wheth- 
er the  man  were  a  Galilean.  And  as  soon  as  he  knew 
that  he  belonged  unto  Herod's  jurisdiction,  he  sent  him 
to  Herod,  who  himself  also  was  in  Jerusalem  at  that 
time.  And  when  Herod  saw  Jesus,  he  was  exceeding 
glad  :  for  he  was  desirous  to  see  him  of  a  long  season, 


FOUR    GOSPET^.  375 

because  he  had  heard  many  things  of  him ;  and  he  hoped 
to  have  seen  some  miracle  done  by  him.  Then  he  ques- 
tioned with  him  in  many  words  ;  but  he  answered  him 
nothing.  And  the  chief  priests  and  Scribes  stood  and 
vehemently  accused  him.  And  Herod  with  his  men  of 
war  set  him  at  nought,  and  mocked  Am,  and  arrayed 
him  in  a  gorgeous  robe,  and  sent  him  again  to  Pilate. 
And  the  same  day  Pilate  and  Herod  were  made  friends 
together  :  for  before  they  were  at  enmity  between  them- 
selves. And  he  saith  unto  the  Jews,  Behold  your  king  ! 
But  they  cried  out,  away  with  himy  away  with  him,  cru- 
cify him.  Pilate  saith  unto  them,  Shall  I  crucify  your 
king  ?  The  chief  priests  answered.  We  have  no  king 
but  Caesar.. 

And  Pilate,  when  he  had  called  together  the  chief 
priests  and  the  rulers  and  the  people,  said  unto  them, 
Ye  have  brought  this  man  unto  me,  as  one  that  perver- 
teth  the  people  :  and,  behold,  I,  having  examined  him 
before  you,  have  found  no  fault  in  this  man  touching 
those  things  whereof  ye  accuse  him  :  no,  nor  yet  Herod  : 
for  I  sent  you  to  him  ;  and,  lo,  nothing  worthy  of  death 
is  done  unto  him.  I  will  therefore  chastise  him,  and  re- 
lease him. 

Behold,  how  all  imaginable  circumstancps  seem  to  conspire 
to  increase  the  infamy  thrown  on  that  sacred  head.,  which  now 
most  worthily  wears  a  crown  of  eternal  glory  !  Of  a  truth,  O 
Lord,  against  thy  holy  Child  Jesus,  both  Herod  and  Pontius 
Pilate,  with  the  Gentiles  and  the  chief  priests,  and  all  the  people 
of  Israel,  were  gathered  together,  to  do  whatsoever  thy  hand  and 
thy  counsel  had  determined  before  to  be  done.  (Acts  iv.  27,  28.) 
The  wisest  person  on  earth  was  by  Herod  and  his  soldiers  de- 
rided as  a  fool  :  the  most  deserving  was  condemned  by  the  chief 
priests  ;  and  the  most  innocent  was  treated  as  a  criminal  by 
Pilate,  and  furiously  demanded  as  a  public  victim  by  the  Jews. 
All  the  proofs  of  his  innocence  are  overborne  by  a  loud  and 
senseless  cry  :  and  those  hosannahs  with  which  the  streets  and 
temple  were  so  lately  echoing,  are  exchanged  into  Crucify  him, 
crucify  him.  So  uncertain  is  human  applause,  and  so  unrigh- 
teous may  human  judgments  be. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all,  the  blessed  Jesus  stands  collectedin 
himself.     Firm  as  a  rock  he   bears  the  violence  of  the  storm, 


376  HARMONY  OF  THE 

and  is  not  moved  by  all  the  furious  waves  that  beat  upon  him; 
and  when  he  saw  a  robber  and  a  murderer  preferred  before  him, 
and  a  sentence  of  the  most  cruel  death  clamorously  called  for 
and  demanded  against  him,  he  silently  commits  himself  to  him 
that  judgelh  righteously,  who  ere  long  brought  forth  his  righ- 
teousness as  brightness,  and  his  salvation  as  a  lamp  that  burneth. 
(Compare  1  Peter  ii.  23,  and  Isaiah  Ixii.  1.) 

Lord,  if  thou  callest  us  out  to  share  in  thy  sufferings,  may 
the  Spirit  of  God  and  of  glory  thus  rest  on  us !  And  may 
neither  the  scorn  nor  the  rage  of  our  enemies  separate  us  from 
thee,  who  did  so  courageously  bear  all  this  for  us  ;  nor  may  they 
ever  sink  us  into  any  weakness  of  behaviour  unworthy  of  those 
who  have  the  honor  to  call  themselves  thyjollouers  ! 


SECTION  ex. 

Matt,    xxvii.    15 — 26.      Mark   xv.    6 — 15.     Luke 
XXIII.  17 — 2.5.     John  xix.  16. 

Now  at  that  feast  the  governoi  was  wont  to  release 
unto  the  people  a  prisoner,  whom  they  would.  And 
they  had  then  a  notable  prisoner  called  Barabbas,  which 
lay  bound  with  them  that  had  made  insurrection  with 
him,  who  had  committed  murder  in  the  insurrection. 
And  the  multitude  crying  aloud  began  to  desire  him  to  do 
as  he  had  ever  done  unto  them,  (for  of  necessity  he  must 
release  one  unto  them  at  the  feast.)  Therefore  when 
they  were  gathered  together,  Pilate  said  unto  them, 
Whom  will  ye  that  I  release  unto  you  ?  Barabbas  or 
Jesus  which  is  called  Christ  ?  will  ye  that  I  release  unto 
you  the  king  of  the  Jews  ?  For  he  knew  that  the  chief 
priests  had  delivered  him  for  envy. 

When  he  was  set  down  on  the  judgment-seat,  his  wife 
sent  unto  him,  saying,  Have  thou  nothing  to  do  with  that 
just  man  ;  for  1  have  suffered  many  things  this  day  in  a 
dream  because  of  him.  But  the  chief  priests  and  elders 
persuaded  the  multitude  that  they  should  ask  Barabbas, 
and  destroy  Jesus.  The  governor  answered  and  /said 
unto  them,  Whether  of  the  twain  will  ye  that  I  release 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  377 

unto  you  ?  And  they  cried  out  all  at  once,  Away  with 
this  man,  and  release  unto  us  Barabbas.  Pilate  there- 
fore willing  to  release  Jesus,  answered  and  said  again 
to  them,  saying,  What  shall  I  do  then  with  Jesus  which 
is  called  Christ  ?  him  whom  ye  call  the  king  of  the  Jews  ? 
And  they  all  cried  out  again,  saying,  Crucify  him,  cru- 
cify him.  And  Pilate  said  unto  them  the  third  time, 
Why,  what  evil  hath  he  done  ?  I  have  found  no  cause 
of  death  in  him  :  I  will  therefore  chastise  him,  and  let 
him  go.  And  they  cried  out  the  more  exceedingly,  they 
were  instant  with  loud  voices,  requiring  that  he  might  be 
crucified.  And  the  voices  of  them  and  of  the  chief 
priests  prevailed. 

When  Pilate  saw  that  he  could  prevail  nothing,  but 
that  rather  a  tumult  was  made,  he  took  water,  and  wash- 
ed his  hands  before  the  multitude,  saying,  I  am  inno- 
cent of  the  blood  of  this  just  person  :  see  ye  to  it.  Then 
answered  all  the  people,  and  said.  His  blood  be  on  us, 
and  on  our  children.  And  so  Pilate  willing  to  content 
the  people,  released  Barabbas  unto  them,  that  for  sedi- 
tion and  murder  was  cast  into  prison,  whom  they  had 
desired  ;  and  took  Jesus  and  scourged  him.  And  Pi- 
late gave  sentence  that  it  should  be  as  they  required, 
and  he  delivered  Jesus  to  their  will  to  be  crucified. 


How  wisely  was  it  ordered  by  Divine  Providence  that  Pilate 
should  be  obliged  thus  to  acquit  Christ,  even  while  he  condemn- 
ed him:  and  to  speak  of  him  as  a  righteous  person,  in  the  same 
breath  with  which  he  doomed  him  to  the  death  of  the  most 
flagitious  malefactor  I  And  how  lamentably  does  the  power  of 
worldly  interest  over  conscience  appear,  when,  after  all  the  con- 
victions of  his  own  mind,  as  well  as  the  admonitions  oi his  icife, 
he  yet  gave  him  up  to  popular  fury.  O  Pilate,  how  gloriously 
hadst  thou  fallen  in  the  defence  of  the  Son  of  God!  and  how 
justly  did  God  afterward  leave  thee  to  perish  by  the  resent- 
ment of  that  people  whom  thou  wast  now  so  studious  to  oblige. 

Who  can  without  trembling  read  that  dreadful  imprecation, 
May  his  blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our  children  I  Words,  which 
even  to  this  day,  have  their  remarkable  and  terrible  accom- 
plishment in  that  curse,  which  has  pursued  the  Jews  through 
seventeen  hundred  years.     Lord,   mav  il  at  length  be   averted, 

33* 


378  HARMONY    OF   THE 

aod  even  turned  into  a  blessing  !  May  they  look  on  him  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  mourn^  till  all  the  obstinacy  of  their 
hearts  be  subdued  :  till  they  bow  down  in  glad  submission  to 
that  King  whom  God  has  set  on  his  holy  hill,  and  thus  are 
brought  themselves  to  reign  with  himin  everlasting  honour  and 
joy! 


SECTION  CXI. 

Matt,   xxvii.    27 — 34.     Mark   xv.    16 — 23.     Lukb 
xxiii.  26 — 34.     John  xix.   16 — 18. 

Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus,  and  led 
him  away  into  the  common  hall,  called  Pretorium  :  and 
gathered  unto  him  the  whole  band  of  soldiers.  And 
they  stripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe.  And 
when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  they  put  U 
upon  his  head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand :  and  they 
bowed  the  knee  before  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying, 
Hail,  King  of  the  Jews !  and  they  spit  upon  him,  and 
smote  him  with  their  hands,  and  took  the  reed,  and  smote 
him  on  the  head. 

And  the  soldiers,  after  they  had  mocked  him,  took  off 
the  purple  from  him,  and  put  his  own  raiment  on  him, 
and  led  him  out  to  crucify  him.  And  he  bearing  his 
cross  went  forth  into  a  place  called  the  place  of  a  skull, 
which  is  called  in  the  Hebrew  Golgotha.  And  as  they 
led  him  away,  they  laid  hold  upon  a  man  of  Cyrene, 
Simon  by  name,  who  passed  by,  coming  out  of  the 
country,  the  father  of  Alexander  and  Rufus  ;  on  him 
they  laid  the  cross,  and  compelled  him  to  bear  it  after 
Jesus. 

And  there  followed  him  a  great  company  of  people, 
and  of  women,  which  also  bewailed  and  lamented  him. 
But  Jesus  turning  unto  them  said,  Daughters  of  Jerusa- 
lem, weep  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  yourselves,  and  for 
your  children.     For,  behold  the  days  are  coming,  in  the 


POUR   GOSPELS.  379 

which  they  shall  say,  Blessed  are  the  barren,  and  the 
wombs  that  never  bare,  and  the  paps  which  never  gave 
suck.  Then  shall  they  begin  to  say  to  the  mountains, 
Fall  on  us  ;  and  to  the  hills,  Cover  us.  For  if  they  do 
these  things  in  a  green  tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the 
dry? 

And  there  were  also  two  other  malefactors  led  with 
him  to  be  put  to  death.  And  when  they  were  come  to 
the  place  called  Golgotha,  that  is  to  say,  a  place  of  the 
skull,  they  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink  mingled  with  gall : 
and  they  gave  him  to  drink  wine  mingled  with  myrrh ; 
but  he  received  it  not :  and  when  he  had  tasted  thereof ^ 
he  would  not  drink.  There  they  crucified  him,  and  the 
two  malefactors  with  him  ;  one  on  the  right  hand,  and 
the  other  on  the  left,  and  Jesus  in  the  midst. 

Then  said  Jesus,  Father,  forgive  them  ;  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do. 

Here  let  us  pause  awhile,  and  make  a  few  serious  reflections 
on  this  amazing  story,  which  the  evangelists  relate  with  so 
much  simplicity.  Behold  the  Son  of  God  bearing  his  cross^ 
fainting'  under  the  load  of  it,-  and  at  length  extended  upon  it, 
and  nailed  to  it.  Him  they  took^  and  with  wicked  hands  crnci' 
fitd  and  slew  him.  (Acts  ii.  23.-)  Blessed  Jtsus,  was  it  for 
this  that  thou  didst  honour  our  nature  by  a  union  to  thine  own, 
and  come  from  thy  throne  of  glory  to  visit  these  abodes  of 
misery  and  guilt !  Was  it  for  this  that  so  many  gracious  dis- 
courses were  delivered,  and  so  many  works  of  love  and  power 
performed  ! /or  ^/iw,  that  thou  mightest  be  treated  as  the  worst 
of  criminals,  and  suspended  on  a  cross  in  the  air,  as  if  unworthy 
of  a  place  on  earth  even  to  die  upon  !  Amazing  and  lamentable 
sight!  Justly,  O  sun,  mightest  thou  blush  to  see  it:  justly,  O 
earth,  mightest  thou  tremble  to  support  it ! 

Lord,  like  these  pious  women,  who  had  the  zeal  and  fortitude 
to  attend  thee,  when  thine  own  apostles  forsook  thee  and  fled,  we 
would  follow  thee  weeping  ;  yet  not  for  thee,  but  for  ourselves  : 
that  our  guilt  had  brought  us  under  si  condemnation,  from  which 
we  could  be  redeemed  by  nothing  less  than  the  precious  blood  of 
the  Son  of  God  :  that  Lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot. 
(1  Peter  i.  19.)  We  should  behold  herein  the  goodness  and 
the  severity  of  God,  (Rom.  xi.  22,)  for  while  the  riches  of  hit 
goodness  are  displayed  in  bis  providing  a  ransom  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  lost  sinners,  an  awful  proof  is  given  of  the  severity  of  his 


2180  HARMONY    OP   THE 

justice^  in  his  710/  sparing  his  own  Son-t  nor  exempting  him  from 
the  sorrows  and  sufferings  due  to  sin,  when  he  came  to  put  him- 
self  in  the  stead  of  sinners  :  and  may  we  not  in  such  a  view 
tremble  for  fear  of  him^  and  he  afraid  of  his  judgments? 
(Psalm  cxix.  120.)  Who  can  support  the  weight  of  his  indig- 
nation, especially  when  it  shall  come  aggravated  by  the  abuse 
of  80  much  love  ?  If  these  things  be  done  in  the  green  wood^ 
what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry?  And  if  such  sufferings  be  in- 
flicted, where  there  was  not  any  personal  guilt  to  kindle  the 
flame,  on  one  who  only  answered  for  the  sins  of  others;  what 
then  will  be  the  end  of  those  who,  by  their  own  iniquities,  are 
become  as  fuel  prepared  for  the  fire,  and  are  as  vessels  of  wrath 
fitted  to  destruction? 

How  shocking  is  it  to  behold  the  vile  indignities  that  were 
put  upon  a  suffering  Jesus,  and  to  reflect  upon  the  cruel  treat- 
ment that  he  met  with  from  his  insulting  enemies  I  Yet  have 
not  we  been  verily  guilty  concerning  this  matter  ?  (Gen.  xlii. 
21.)  Are  we  not  chargeable  with  despising  Christ?  and  have 
we  not  crucified  the  Son  of  God  afresh^  and  put  him  to  an  open 
shame  ?  (Heb.  vi.  6.)  O  may  that  apology  be  heard  in  our 
favour  !  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  7iof  what  they  do  ! 
For  surely  sinners  do  not  know  what  they  do,  when  ihey  pierce 
Christ  by  their  sins,  and  turn  aicay  their  faces  from  him. — But 
under  all  his  sufferings,  how  amazing  was  his  meekness!  and 
how  compassionate  the  concern  which  he  expressed  for  his 
most  cruel  persecutors .''  May  we  learn  pa/iencfi,  and  love  to 
our  enemies,  from  so  bright  an  example  of  it !  May  we,  like 
him,  bless  them  that  curse  us,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefully 
use  us,  and  persecute  us!  (Matt.  v.  44.)  Instead  of  being  in- 
genious to  aggravate  their  faults,  and  to  paint  them  in  the  most 
shocking  colours,  let  us  rather  seek  for  the  best  excuses,  which 
even  the  worst  of  causes  will  fairly  bear;  influenced  by  that 
charity  which  unconstrained  believes  no  evil,  and  hopeth  all 
things  even  against  hope.     (1  Oor.  xiii.  5,  7.) 

Gracious  Saviour!  thy  dying  prayer,  and  thy  dying  blood, 
were  not  like  water  spilt  upon  the  ground ;  they  came  up  in 
remembrance  before  God,  when  thy  gospel  began  to  he  preached 
ot  Jerusalem  .*  and  mullitudes,  who  were  now  consenting  to  thy 
death,  gladly  received  thy  word,  and  were  baptised,  (Acts  ii.  41,) 
and  they  are  now  in  glory,  celebrating  that  grace  which  has 
taken  out  the  scarlet  and  crimson  dye  of  their  sins,  and  turned 
that  blood  which  they  so  impiously  shed  into  the  balm  of  their 
wounds,  and  the  life  of  their  souls. 


POUR  GOSPELS.  381 

SECTION  CXII. 

John  xix.  19 — 22. 

And  Pilate  wrote  a  title,  and  put  it  on  the  cross  ;  and 
the  writing  was,  JESUS  OF  NAZARETH  THE  KING 
OF  THE  JEWS.  This  title  then  read  many  of  the 
Jews  ;  for  the  place  where  Jesus  was  crucified  was  nigh 
to  the  city  :  and  it  was  written  in  Hebrew,  and  Greek, 
and  Latin.  Then  said  the  chief  priests  of  the  Jews  to 
Pilate,  Write  not,  The  King  of  the  Jews  ;  but  that  he 
said,  I  am  the  King  of  tire  Jews.  Pilate  answered, 
What  I  have  written  1  have  written. 

Matt,  xxvii.  35 — 38.     Mark  xv.  24 — 28.     John 
XIX.  23,  24. 

Then  the  soldiers,  when  they  had  crucified  Jesus,  took 
his  garments,  and  made  four  parts,  to  every  soldier  a 
a  part ;  and  also  Jiis  coat ;  now  the  coat  was  without  a 
seam,  woven  from  the  top  throughout.  They  said  there- 
fore among  themselves.  Let  us  not  rend  it,  but  cast  lots 
for  it,  whose  it  shall  be.  And  they  cast  lots  :  that  the 
scripture  might  be  fulfilled,  wljich  saith,  They  parted 
my  raiment  among  them,  and  for  my  vesture  they  did 
cast  lots.  These  things  therefore  the  soldiers  did  ;  and 
sitting  down  they  watched  him  there.  And  it  was  the 
third  hour  and  they  crucified  him.  And  tJiey  set  up  over 
his  head  his  accusation  written,  THIS  IS  JESUS  THE 
KING  OF  THE  JEWS.  And  with  him  they  crucified 
two  thieves  .5  the  one  on  his  right  hand  and  the  other  on 
his  left.  And  the  scripture  was  fulfilled,  which  saith, 
And  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors. 

Matt,  xxvii.  39 — 44.     Mark  xv.  29 — 32.     Luke 
XXIII.  36. 

And  they  that  passed  by  reviled  him,  and  railed  on 
him,  wagging  their  heads,  and  saying,  Ah,  thou  that  des- 


382  HARMOKY  OF  THE 

troyeth  the  temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three  days,  save 
thyself,  if  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  and  come  down  from 
the  cross.  And  the  people  stood  beholding.  Likewise 
also  the  chief  priests  mocking  him  said  among  themselves 
with  the  Scribes  and  elders,  He  saved  others  ;  himself 
he  cannot  save.  If  he  be  Christ,  the  King  of  Israel,  the 
chosen  of  God,  let  him  now  come  down  from  the  cross, 
and  we  will  believe  him.  He  trusted  in  God  :  let  him 
deliver  him  now,  if  he  will  have  him :  for  he  said,  I  am 
the  Son  of  God.  The  thieves,  which  were  crucified 
with  him,  cast  the  same  in  his  teeth,  and  reviled  him. 
And  the  soldiers  also  mocked  him,  and  offering  him 
vinegar,  and  saying.  If  thou  be  the  King  of  the  Jews, 
save  thyself. 

How  great  and  glorious  does  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  appear 
in  the  midst  of  all  those  dishonours  which  his  enemies  were 
now  heaping  upon  him!  While  these  rapacious  soldiers  were 
dividing  the  spoils,  parting  his  raiment  among  them,  and  casting 
lots  for  his  vesture,  God  was  working  in  all  to  crown  him  with 
a  glory  which  none  could  take  from  him,  and  to  make  the  lus- 
tre of  it  so  much  the  more  conspicuous  by  that  dark  cloud 
which  now  surrounded  him. 

His  enemies  upbraided  him  as  an  abandoned  miscreant^  de- 
serted both  by  God  and  man;  but  he  (though  able  to  have 
eome  down  from  the  cross  in  a  moment,  or  by  one  word  from 
thence  to  have  struck  these  insolent  wretches  dead  on  the  place, 
and  to  have  sent  their  guilty  spirits  to  accompany  the  Jiends 
under  whose  influence  they  were,)  yet  patiently  endured  all, 
and  was  as  a  deaf  man,  who  heard  not  their  reproaches,  and  as 
a  dumb  man  that  openeth  not  his  mouth.    (Psa.  xxxviii.  13.) 

Luke  xxiii.  38 — 43. 

And  a  superscription  also  was  written  over  him  in 
letters  of  Greek  and  Latin,  and  Hebrew,  THIS  IS  THE 
KING  OF  THE  JEWS. 

And  one  of  the  malefactors  which  were  hanged  railed 
on  him,  saying,  If  thou  be  Christ,  save  thyself  and  us. 
But  the  other  answering  rebuked  him,  saying,  Dost  not 
thou  fear  God,  seeing  thou  art  in  the  same  condemna- 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  383 

tion  ?  and  we  indeed  justly  ;  for  we  receive  the  due  re- 
ward of  our  deeds:  but  this  man  hath  done  nothing 
amiss.  And  he  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  remember  me 
when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom.  And  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee,  To-day  shalt  thou  be 
with  me  in  Paradise. 


But  as  soon  as  the  pejiitent  thief  diddressed  him  with  that  hum- 
ble supplication,  the  language  of  repentance,  faith,  and  hope,  Lord, 
remember  me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom,  he  immediately 
hears  and  answers  him :  and  in  how  gracious  and  lemarkable  a 
phrase !  This  day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise  !  What  a 
triumph  was  here,  not  only  oi  mercy  to  the  dying  penitent,  but  of 
the  strongest  faith  in  God,  that  when  to  an  eye  of  sense  he  seemed 
to  be  most  deserted  d^nd  forgotten  by  him,  and  was  on  every  side 
beset  with  the  scorn  of  them  that  were  at  ease,  and  with  the  con- 
tempt  of  the  proud,  he  should  speak  from  the  cross  as  from  a 
throne,  and  undertake  from  thence,  not  only  to  dispense /^ardoTW, 
but  to  dispose  of  seats  in  paradise  ! 

Most  ungrateful  and  most  foolish  is  the  conduct  of  those  who 
take  encouragement  from  hence  to  put  off  their  repentance  per» 
haps  to  a  dying  moment :  most  ungrateful  in  perverting  the  grace 
of  the  Redeemer  iiito  an  occasion  of  renewing  their  provocations 
againot  him,  and  hardening  their  hearts  in  their  impieties,  and 
most  foolish  to  imagine  that  what  Our  Lord  did  in  so  singular  a 
circumstance  is  to  be  drawn  into  an  ordinary  precedent.  This 
criminal  had,  perhaps,  never  heard  of  the  gospel  before ;  and  now 
how  cordially  does  he  embrace  it  ?  Probably  there  are  ieyv  saints 
in  glory  who  ever  honoured  Christ  more  illustriously  than  this  dy- 
ing sinner,  acknowledaing  him  to  be  the  Lord  of  life,  whom  he 
saw  in  the  agonies  of  death;  and  pleading  his  cause  when  his 
friends  and  brethren  forsook  him,  and  stood  afar  off.  (Compare 
Matt.  xxvi.  56,  and  J.uke  xxiii.  49.) 

But  such  is  the  coiruption  of  men's  hearts,  and  such  the  artifice 
of  Satan,  that  all  other  views  of  him  are  overlooked,  and  nothing 
remembered,  but  that  he  was  a  notorious  offender,  who  obtained 
mercy  in  his  departing  moments.  The  Lord  grant  that  none  who 
read  this  story  here  may  be  added  to  the  list  of  those  who,  despis- 
ing the  forbearance  and  long-suffering  of  God,  and  not  knowing 
that  his  goodness  leads  to  repentance,  have  been  emboldened  to 
abuse  this  scripture,  so  as  to  perish,  either  without  crying  for  mercy 
at  all,  or  crying  for  it  in  vain,  after  having  treasured  up  an  inex- 
haustible store  ofwratht  misery,  and  despair !  (Rom.  ii.  4,  6.) 


384  HARMONY    OF   THE 


SECTION  CXIII. 

Matt,  xxvii.  45 — 54.     Mark  xliv.  33 — 39.     Luke 
XXIII.  44—^48.     John  xix.  26 — 27. 

Now  there  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus,  his  mother,  and 
his  mother's  sister,  Mary  the  loife  of  Cleophas,  and 
Mary  Magdalene.  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  his 
mother,  and  the  disciple  standing  by,  whom  he  loved, 
he  saith  unto  his  mother,  Woman,  behold  thy  son  ! 
Then  saith  he  to  the  disciple.  Behold  thy  mother  1  And 
from  that  hour  that  disciple  took  her  unto  his  own 
home. 

And  when  the  sixth  hour  was  come,  there  was  dark- 
ness over  all  the  land  unto  the  ninth  hour.  And  the  sun 
was  darkened,  and  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  the 
midst.  And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  saying,  Eli,  Eli,  lama  sabachthani  ?  which  is  being 
interpreted,  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me  ?  And  some  of  them  that  stood  by,  when  they  heard 
thatj  said,  Behold,  this  man  calletli  for  Elias  ? 

After  this,  Jesus  knowing  that  ail  things  were  now  ac- 
complished, that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled,  saith,  I 
thirst.  Now  there  was  set  a  vessel  full  of  vinegar  :  and 
straightway  one  of  them  ran,  and  took  a  sponge,  and 
filled  it  with  vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reed,  and  gave  him 
to  drink.  The  rest  said,  Let  be,  let  us  see  whether 
Ehas  will  come  to  save  him. 

When  Jesus  therefore  had  received  the  vinegar,  he 
said,  It  is  finished. 

And  when  Jesus  had  cried  again  with  a  loud  voice, 
he  said.  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit : 
and  having  said  thus,  he  bowed  his  head,  and  gave  up 
the  ghost. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  386 


Matt,  xxvii.  51 — 56.     Mark  xv.  38 — 41.     Luke 
XXIII.  47 — 49. 

And,  behold,  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  twain, 
in  the  nnidst,  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  ;  and  the  earth 
did  quake,  and  the  rocks  rent,  and  the  graves  were 
opened;  and  many  bodies  of  the  saints  which  slept 
arose,  and  came  out  of  tlie  graves  after  his  resurrection, 
and  went  into  the  holy  cily,  and  appeared  unto  many. 

Now  when  the  centurion  which  stood  over  against  him, 
and  they  that  were  witii  Iiim,  wutcliing  Jesus,  saw  the 
earthquake,  and  those  things  that  were  done,  that  he  so 
cried  out  and  gave  up  the  sih"st,  they  feared  greatly :  and 
the  centurion  glorified  God,  saying,  Certainly  this  was  a 
righteous  man  ;  Truly  this  man  was  the  Son  of  God. 
And  all  the  people  that  came  together  to  that  sight,  be- 
holding the  things  which  were  done,  smote  their  breasts 
and  returned. 

And  surely  we,  when  we  return  fiom  such  a  view  of  it  as  this, 
have  reason  to  smite  upon  our  breasts  too,  and  lo  be  most  deeply 
aff'ected  with  what  we  tiave  heard  and  seen  in  this  lively  descrip- 
tion. Let  lis  set  ourselves  as  wi»h  the  tnother  of  Jesus,  and  the 
beloved  disciple,  at  the  foot  of  the  eras'* :  and  see  whether  there  be 
any  sorrow  like  unto  his  sorrow,  wherewith  the  Lord  abided 
him  in  the  day  of  his  fieice  anger,  (i.an;.  i  12.)  Well  might 
the  sun  piow  pale  at  the  sight ;  well  might  the  earth  tremble  to 
support  it  !  How  obddrale  nm^t  the  heails  cf  tlu>se  sinners  be, 
who  could  make  a  mock  of  all  his  angui-h,  and  sport  themselves 
with  his  dyiirg  groans  !  But  surely  the  blessed  angels  who  were 
now,  though  in  an  invisible  ciovvd,  sunounding  the  accursed  tree, 
beheld  him  with  other  sentiments:  adtniiing  ai  d  adoring  the  va- 
rious virtues  which  he  expiessed  in  eveiy  circnm>tance  of  his  be- 
haviour ;  and  which,  while  the  sun  of  righteousness  was  setting, 
gilded  and  adorned  all  the  hoiizon.  Let  ns  likewise  pay  our  ho- 
mage to  (hem,  and  observe  wiih  adtniration  liis  teniicrness  to  his 
surviving  parent ;  his  meekness  under  all  these  injuries  a'nd  prO' 
vocations;  his  steady /ai7/j  in  God  in  an  hour  of  the  utmost  dis- 
tress; and  his  concern  to  accomplish  all  the  puipores  of  his  life, 
before  he  yielded  to  the  stioke  of  death. 

Yet  with  what  amazement  must  the  holy  angels  hear  that  cry 
from  the  Son  oj  God,  from  the  darling  of  heaven.  My  God,  my 

34 


S86  HAT?MONY    OP    THB 

God,  vohy  h/ist  thou  forsaken  me!  Let  not  any  of  the  children 
of  God  wonder  if  their  heavenly  Father  sometimes  withdraw  from 
them  the  sensible  and  supporting  manifestations  of  his  presence, 
when  Christ  himself  was  thus  exercised;  and  let  them  remember 
XhAt  faith  never  appears  with  greater  glory  than  when,  in  language 
like  this,  it  bursts  through  a  thick  eloud,  and  owns  the  God  of 
Israel,  and  the  Saviour^  even  while  he  is  a  God  that  hideth  him- 
self from  us.  (Is.  xlv.  15.)  May  we,  in  our  approaching  com- 
bat with  the  king  of  terrors,  find  him  enervated  by  the  death  of 
our  dear  Lord^  who  thus  conquered  even  when  he  lell !  May  we 
thus  breathe  out  our  willing  and  composed  spirits  into  our  Fa- 
therms  hands,  with  a  language  and  faith  like  this,  as  knowing 
whom  we  h?ive  believed,  and  being  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to 
keep  what  we  commit  to  him  until  that  day  /  (2 Tim.  i.  12.) 


SECTION    CXIV. 

Matt,  xxvii.  55 — 61.     Mark  xv.  40 — 47.     Luke 
xxui.  49 — 66.     JoHiv  XIX.  31 — 41. 

And  all  his  acquaintancej  and  the  women  that  followed 
hinn  fronm  Galilee  ministering  unto  him,  stood  afar  off; 
among  whom  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and  Mary  the 
mother  of  James  the  less  and  of  Joses,  and  Salome  the 
mother  of  Zebedee's  children  :  and  many  other  women 
were  there,  which  came  up  with  him  unto  Jerusalem, 
beholding  these  things. 

The  Jews  therefore,  because  it  was  the  preparation, 
that  the  bodies  should  not  remain  upon  the  cross  on  the 
sabbath-day,  (for  the  sabbath-day  was  an  high  day,)  be- 
sought Pilate  that  their  legs  night  be  broken,  and  that 
they  might  be  taken  away.  Then  came  the  soldiers,  and 
brake  the  legs  of  the  first,  and  of  the  other  which  was 
crucified  with  him.  But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and 
saw  that  he  was  dead  already,  they  brake  not  his  legs  : 
but  one  of  the  soldiers  with  spear  pierced  his  side,  and 
forthwith  came  thereout  blood  and  water. 

And  he  that  saw  if  bear  record,  and  his  record  is  true  ; 
and  he  knoweth  that  he  saith  true,  that  ye  might  believe. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  387 

For  these  things  were  done,  that  the  scripture  should 
be  fulfilled,  A  bone  of  him  shall  not  be  broken.  And 
again  another  scripture  saith,  They  shall  look  on  hina 
whom  they  pierced. 

And  after  this,  when  the  even  was  come,  behold,  there 
came  a  rich  man  of  Arimathssa,  a  city  of  the  Jews,  named 
Joseph,  an  honourable  counsellor,  and  he  ivas  a  good 
and  a  just  man.  The  same  had  not  consented  to  the 
counsel  and  deed  of  them  :  but  also  himself  waited  for 
the  kingdom  of  God,  being  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  but  se- 
cretly for  fear  of  the  Jews.  This  man  went  in  boldly 
unto  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body  of  Jesus,  that  he  might 
take  it  away.  And  Pilate  marvelled  if  he  were  already 
dead :  and  calling  unto  him  the  centurion,  he  asked 
him  whether  he  had  been  any  while  dead.  And  when 
he  knew  it  of  the  centurion,  he  gave  him  leave,  and 
coinmanded  the  body  to  be  delivered  to  Joseph.  And  he 
bought  fine  linen,  and  took  him  down. 

And  there  came  also  Nicodemus,  which  at  the  first 
came  to  Jesus  by  night,  and  brought  a  mixture  of  myrrh 
and  aloes,  about  an  hundred  pound  weight.  Then  look 
they  the  body  of  Jesus,  and  wound  it  in  hnen  clothes 
with  the  spices,  as  the  manner  of  the  Jews  is  to  bury. 

Now  in  the  place  where  he  was  crucified  there  was  a 
garden  ;  and  in  the  garden  a  new  sepulchre,  which  he 
[Joseph^  had  hewn  out  in  the  rock,  wherein  was  never 
man  yet  laid.  There  laid  they  Jesus  therefore,  because 
of  the  Jews'  preparation-Jcry,  and  the  sabbath  drew  on  : 
for  the  sepulchre  was  nigh  at  hand  ;  and  he  rolled  a 
great  stone  at  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  and   departed. 

And  the  women  also,  which  came  with  him  from 
Galilee,  followed  after,  and  beheld  the  sepulchre :  and 
there  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and  the  other  Mary  the 
mother  of  Joses,  sitting  over  against  the  sepulchre,  and 
beheld  how  his  body  was  laid.  And  they  returned,  and 
prepared  spices  and  ointments  :  and  rested  the  sabbath- 
day,  according  to  the  commandment. 


388  HARMONY    OP   THE 

We  have  seen  the  sorrows  of  our  expiring  Lord  :  let  us  now, 
like  these  pious  women,  raise  our  eyes  to  him  with  an  holy  and 
unfeigned  affection,  and  behold  him  pale  and  breathless  on  the 
accursed  tree.  Let  us  view  him  by  faith,  till  the  eye  affects  the 
heart,  and  till  we  learn  to  glory  in  nothing  but  his  cross,  whereby 
the  world  may  be  crucified  to  ms,  and  we  may  be  crucitied  to  the 
world.     (Gal.  vi.  14) 

How  wonderfully  does  the  providence  of  God  appear  to  have 
regarded  the  body  of  Jesus,  which  had  so  long  been  the  temple  of 
the  indwelling  teity;  even  when  it  was  deserted  of  that  Spirit 
which  had  lately  animated  it;  and  while  it/iwng'  (amazing  thought, 
that  it  ever  should  have  hung  !)  between  the  bodies  of  two  thieves 
on  a  cross,  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem .'  He,  who  has  all 
hearts  in  his  hand,  interposed  by  a  secret  but  powerful  influence 
on  the  soldiers,  who  brake  the  legs  of  the  malefactors,  to  spare 
those  of  Christ;  that  so  nothing  which  looked  like  a  prophecy  of 
him  should  want  its  proper  accomplishment.  But  his  side  was 
pierced;  and  how  deep  was  the  wound,  when  immediately  there 
came  out  of  it  blood  and  water  !  Happy  emblem  of  the  blessed 
effect  of  his  deith  !  He  came  both  by  water  and  blood  (as  he 
who  saw  and  testified  this  important  fact  leads  us  to  improve  it, 
1  John  V.  6. ;)  and  by  this  means  at  once  atones  the  injured  jus- 
tice of  God,  and  purifies  the  souls  of  them  that  believe  in  him. 

Our  indignation  rises  against  the  man  that  could,  by  such  an 
outrage  as  this,  abuse  the  dead  body  of  our  Redeemer :  but  oh, 
let  us  seriously  remember  the  harid  which  our  sins  had  in  all  that 
was  now  done.  He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions  ;  he 
was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  :  (Isa.  liii.  5).  And  therefore  it  is 
said  concerning  those  on  whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  to  come, 
that  they  shall  look  on  him  whom  ihey  have  pierced  and  mourn. 
(Zech.  xii.  10,)  May  we  mourn  over  him  with  a  genuine  evan- 
gelical sorrow,  when  we  consider  who?7i  we  have  pierced ;  and 
how  deep  and  how  often  we  have  pierced  him  ;  and  upon  what 
slight  temptations ;  and  under  how  many  engagements  rather  to 
have  bathed  his  wounds  with  our  tears,  and  even  to  have  exposed 
our  owH  hearts  to  the  sharpest  weapon  by  which  the  madness  of 
sinners  might  have  attempted  to  injure  him. 

The  boldness  of  Joseph^  and  even  of  Jficodemus  himself,  de- 
serves our  notice  on  such  an  occasion.  They  are  not  ashamed  of 
the  infamy  of  his  crosSy  but  come  with  all  holy  reverence  and  af- 
fection to  take  down  those  sacred  remains  oi  Jesus  ;  nor  did  they 
think  the  finest  linen,  or  the  choisest  spices,  too  valuable  on  such 
an  occasion.  But  who  can  describe  their  consternation  and  dis- 
tress when  they  saw  him,  who  they  trusted  should  have  delivered 
Israel,  a  cold  and  bloody  corpse  in  their  arms ;  and  left  him  in  the 
sepulchre  of  Joseph,  whom  they  expected  to  have  seen  on  the 
throne  of  David! 


FOUR    OOSPEL6.  389 


Matthew  xxvii.  62 — 66. 

Now  the  next  day,  that  followed  the  day  of  the  prepara- 
tion, the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  came  together  un- 
to Pilate,  saying,  Sir,  we  remember  that  that  deceiver 
said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  After  three  days  I  will  rise 
again.  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre  be  made 
sure  until  ihe  third  day,  lest  his  disciples  come  by  night, 
and  steal  him  away,  and  say  unto  the  people.  He  is  risen 
from  the  dead  :  so  the  last  error  shall  be  worse  than  the 
first.  Pilate  said  unto  them,  Ye  have  a  watch  :  go  your 
way,  make  it  as  sure  as  you  can.  So  they  went,  and 
made  the  sepulchre  sure  sealing  the  stone,  and  setting  a 
watch. 

We  see  the  restless  and  implacable  malice  of  ChrisVs  enemies, 
which  pursued  him  even  to  his  temb,  and  there  endeavoured  to 
blast  his  memory  by  fixing  upon  him  the  character  of"  an  imposter. 
They  demanded,  and  procuied  a  guard  for  his  sepulchre.  And 
here  also  we  have  a  repeated  instance  of  God's  taking  the  wise  in 
their  own  craftiness.  (Job  v.  13. )  The  seal  and  the  guard  served 
only  more  fully  to  attest  the  do-ctrine  of  ChrisVs  resurrection, 
which  they  were  set  to  overthrow,  and  to  grace  the  triumph  they 
were  intended  to  oppose.  Thus  shall  all  the  rage,  and  all  the  ar- 
tifice of  his  enemies,  at  length  promote  the  purposes  of  his  glory: 
thus  shall  meat  at  length  come  out  of  the  eater,  and  sweetness  out 
of  the  strong.  (Judges  xiv.  14  )  The  wrath  of  man,  O  Lord^ 
shall  praise  thee  ;  and  the  remainder  of  it  shall  thou  restrain,  and 
shall  tiiumph  over  it,  either  by  thy  grace,  or  by  thy  vengeance. 
(Psalm  Ixxvi.  10.) 


34* 


PART  V. 


MATT.  XXVI.     MARK  XVI.     LUKE  XXIV. 
JOHN  XX.  XXI. 

COJJTAINING  THE  PERIOD  OF  FORTY  DAYS,  FROM  THE 
MORNING  OF  THE  RESURRECTION  OF  CHRIST  TO  THE 
DAY  OF  HIS  ASCENSION  INTO  HEAVEN,  IN  THE  YEAR 
THIRTY. 


HARMONY  OP  THE  FOUS  GOSPELS^  393 


SECTION  I. 

Matt,  xxviii.  1 — 8.     Markxvi.1 — 8. 

When  the  sabbath  was  past,  Mary  Magdalene,  and  Ma- 
ry the  mother  of  James,  and  Salome,  had  bought  sweet 
spices,  that  they  might  come  and  anoint  him.  And 
very  early  in  the  morning,  the  first  day  of  the  week,  as 
it  began  to  dawn,  they  came  unto  the  sepulchre,  to  see 
it,  at  the  rising  of  the  sun. 

And,  behold,  there  was  a  great  earthquake  :  for  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from  heaven,  and  came 
and  rolled  back  the  stone  from  the  door,  and  sat  upon 
it.  His  countenance  was  like  lightning,  and  his  rai- 
ment white  as  snow:  and  for  fear  of  him  the  keepers 
did  shake,  and  became  as  dead  men.  And  they  said 
among  themselves.  Who  shall  roll  us  away  the  stone 
from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre  ?  for  it  was  very  great. 
And  entering  into  the  sepulchre,  they  saw  a  young  man 
sitting  on  the  right  side,  clothed  in  a  long  white  garment : 
and  they  were  affrighted.  And  the  angel  answered  and 
said  unto  the  women,  Be  not  affrighted,  for  I  know  that 
ye  seek  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  which  was  crucified  :  He 
is  not  here  ;  for  he  is  risen,  as  he  said  :  Come,  see  the 
place  where  the  Lord  lay.  And  go  quickly,  and  tell  his 
disciples,  and  Peter,  that  he  is  risen  from  the  dead ; 
and,  behold,  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee  ;  there 
shall  ye  see  him,  as  he  said  unto  you  :  lo,  I  have  told 
you. 


394  HARMONY    OP   THE 

And  they  departed  quickly,  and  fled  from  the  sepul- 
chre with  fear  and  great  joy  ;  for  they  trembled  and 
were  amazed  :  neither  said  they  any  thing  to  any  man  : 
for  they  were  afraid  ,•  and  did  run  to  bring  his  disciples 
word. 

How  fit  is  it  that  we  should  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song  ! 
and  with  what  thankful  hearts  should  we  join,  on  his  own  day^ 
and  on  every  day,  to  cons^ratulate  the  triumph  of  his  rising 
from  the  rfeac?,  and  to  rejoice  in  this  hir Ih- day  oi  o\xr  hopes! 
Now  is  ihe  justice  of  God  amply  satisfied,  or  the  prisoner  had 
never  been  released.  Now  is  the  rtproach  of  the  cross  ceasedt 
and  turned  into  proportionable  glory.  That  reproach  was  rolled 
away  at  once  by  the  descending  angels  who  appeared  not  to 
awaken  Christ  from  his  sleep,  or  to  bring  him  a  new  ///e,  for  he 
had  himself  a  power^  whenever  he  pleased,  to  resume  that 
which  he  had  voluntarily  resigned,  (John  x.  18  ;)  but  he  came 
to  add  a  solemn  pomp  to  his  revival,  and  to  strike  the  guards 
with  such  a  terror  as  would  effectually  prevent  any  mad 
attempt  on  this  glorious  Conqueror,  when  he  was  bursting  the 
bonds  in  which  he  had  for  a  while  been  held. 

O  Lord,  we  acknowledge  the  truth  of  thy  promise:  thou  didst 
not  leave  his  soul  in  hell,  neither  didst  thou  suffer  the  flesh  of 
thine  Holy  One  to  see  corruption.  (Psalm  xvi.  10.)  Now  is 
Christ  indeed  risen  from  the  dead y  and  become  the  Jirst-fruits  of 
them  that  slept.,  (1  Cor.  xv.  20:)  may  we,  in  conformity  to  his 
holy  example,  be  dead  to  sin,  and  to  the  icorld ;  that  like  as 
Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father, 
even  so  we  also  may  walk  in  neuness  of  life  I  (Rom.  vi.  4.) 
Then  will  he  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead^  ere  long, 
quicken  our  mortal  bodies  by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  us. 
(Rom.  viii.  11.) 

We  are  now  again  called,  as  by  the  angcVsvoice,  to  come  and 
see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay,  and  to  take  an  affectionate 
survey  of  that  sepulchre,  which  our  rising  Saviour  had  left,  and 
where  he  had  laid  aside  the  dress  of  death,  as  a  token  that  he 
should  return  to  it  no  more.  How  wonderful  that  he  should 
ever  have  lain  there!  that  the  Zrort?  of  life  should  have  dwelt 
among  the  dead,  and  from  the  glory  of  the  throne  of  God 
should  have  sunk  down  to  the  abasement  of  ihe  grave! — But 
he  has  burst  its  prison  doors,  and  hath  abolished  death,  and  him 
who  had  the  power  of  it ;  abolished  it  for  himself  and  us.  How 
are  all  its  terrors  now  disarmed  !  O  death  where  is  thy  sting  ! 
O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  !     (1  Cor.  xv.  65.) 

With  what  pleasure  did  the  angels  deliver  this  gracious 
meeeage  of  their  Lord  as  well  as  ours  !  and  with  what  transport 


FOtJR   GOSPELS.  395 

did  the  piou3  ipomen  receive  it!  Behold  the  tender  care  of 
Christ  over  his  people  !  An^ds  have  it  immediately  in  charge 
to  send  the  g;lad  tidings  to  his  disciples  ;  and  Jesus  repeats  and 
confirms  them.  Go  tell  my  brethren,  I  am  risen  from  the  dead. 
Lord,  is  this  thy  language  concerning  those  who  but  a  few 
hours  before  had  forsaken  thee!  and  one  of  them,  with  such 
dreadful  imprecations  denied  thee!  Yet  even  that  disciple  is 
not  excluded;  nay,  io him  is  it  peculiarly  addressed  :  go  tell  my 
brethren,  and  in  particular  tell  Peter,  that  he,  poor  mourner, 
may  especially  be  comforted.  Compassionate  Redeemer^  thou 
hast  brought  up  from  the  tomb  with  thee  that  tenderness  and 
goodness  which  laid  thee  there  ! 

Such  is  the  freedom  and  glory  of  thy  grace,  that  thou  some- 
times liosijirst  manifest  thyself  io  those  who  were  once  in  the 
most  miserable  bondage  to  Satan.  Whenever  this  is  thecase, 
may  the  peculiar  obligation  be  remembered  !  May  every  re- 
mainder of  unbelief  he  subdued  in  our  souls  I  and  may  we  joy- 
fully communicate  to  all  around  us  the  tidings  of  a  risen  Sa- 
viour, and  the  merciful  discoveries  of  his  presence  to  us  ! 


SECTION  IT. 

Matt,  xxviii.  11  — 15. 

Now  when  they  were  going,  behold,  some  of  the  watch 
came  into  the  city,  and  shewed  unto  the  chief  priests 
all  the  things  that  were  done.  And  when  they  were 
assembled  with  the  elders,  and  had  taken  counsel,  they 
gave  large  money  unto  the  soldiers,  saying,  Say  ye, 
His  disciples  came  by  nigbt,  and  stole  him  away  while 
we  slept.  And  if  this  come  to  the  governor's  ears,  we 
will  persuade  him,  and  secure  you.  So  they  took  the 
money,  and  did  as  they  were  taught :  and  this  saying  is 
comnwnly  reported  among  the  Jews  until  this  day. 

Luke  XXIV.  1 — 9,  11. 

Now  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  very  early  in 
the  morning,  they  came  unto  the  sej)ulchre,  bringing  the 
spices  which  they  had  prepared,  and  certain  others  with 


396  HARMONY  OF  THE 

them  ;  and  they  found  the  stone  rolled  away  from  tEe 
sepulchre.  And  they  entered  in,  and  found  not  the 
body  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they 
were  much  perplexed  thereabout,  behold,  two  men  stood 
by  them  in  shining  garments  :  and  as  they  were  afraid, 
and  bowed  down  their  faces  to  the  earth,  they  said 
unto  them.  Why  seek  ye  the  living  among  the  dead  ? 
He  is  not  here,  but  is  risen.  Remember  how  he  spake 
unto  you  when  he  was  yet  in  Galilee,  saying.  The  Son 
of  man  must  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  sinful  men, 
and  be  crucified,  and  the  third  day  rise  again.  And 
they  remembered  his  words,  and  returned  from  the  sep- 
ulchre, and  told  all  these  things  unto  the  eleven,  and  to 
all  the  rest.  And  their  words  seemed  to  them  as  idle 
tales,  and  they  believed  them  not. 


Surely  there  is  nothing  in  the  whole  sacred  story  which  does 
in  a  more  affecting  manner  illustrate  the  deplorable  hardness 
of  the  human  heart  in  this  degenerate  state,  than  the  portion 
of  it  which  is  now  before  us.  What  but  the  te&timony  of  an 
apostle  could  have  been  sufficient  to  persuade  us,  that  men  who 
had  been  but  a  few  hours  before  the  witnesses  of  such  an  awful 
scene,  who  had  beheld  the  angel  descendi7ig,  had  felt  ihe  earth 
trembling,  and  had  seen  the  sepulchre  bursting  open  by  a  Divine 
power,  and  had  fallen  doicn  in  helpless  astonishment  and  con- 
fusion, perhaps  expecting  every  moment  to  be  themselves  de- 
stroyed, should  that  very  day,  yea,  that  very  morning,  suffer 
themselves  to  be  hired  by  a  sum  of  money  to  do  their  utmost  to 
asperse  the  character  of  Christ,  and  to  invalidate  the  evidence 
of  his  resurrection,  of  which  they  were  in  effect  eye-witnesses  ? 

Nay,  how  astonishing  is  it,  that  the  chief  priests  themselves, 
the  public  ministers  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  could  act  such  a  part 
as  this  !  They  hear  this  full  evidence  that  he,  that  Jesus  whom 
they  had  murdered,  was  risen  from  the  dead;  and  they  well 
knew  and  remembered  that  he  had  himself  put  the  proof  of  his 
mission  on  this  very  fact  ;a  fact  to  which  the  prodigies  at  his 
death,  which  they  themselves  had  seen  and  felt,  added  an  inex- 
pressible weight  of  probability.  "Who  would  not  have  ex- 
pected that  they  should  have  been  alarmed^  convinced,  and 
humbled  ;  that  they  should  have  turned  the  remaining  days  of 
the  passover  into  a  puhVic fast,  and  have  solicitously  sought  out 
him  who  was  so  powerfully  diclared  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  to 
cast  themselves  at  his  feet,  and  entreat  his  pardon  and  grace  ? 


POUR    GOSPEI,*.  397 

But  instead  of  this,  with  invincible  and  growing  malice^  they 
set  themselves. to  oppose  him,  and  bribe  the  soldiers  to  testify  a 
lie,  the  most  to  his  dishonour  of  any  that  hell  could  invent. 
And  surely,  had  not  Christ  been  kept  out  of  their  sight  and 
power,  they  would,  notwithstanding  all  this, have  endeavoured 
to  bring  him  down  to  the  tomb  again,  on  the  very  same  princi- 
ples on  which  they  would  have  slain  Lazarus  after  his  resurrec- 
tion. (John  xii.  10.)  So  true  does  it  appear,  in  this  renewed 
and  unequalled  instance,  that  //  men  hear  not  Moses  and  tht 
prophets,  neither  will  they  be  persuaded  though  one  rose  from  tht 
dead.     (Lukexvi.  31.) 

No  question  but  these  very  men,  when  pressed  with  the  evi- 
dencea  of  ChrisCs  resurrection,  answered,  as  succeeding  irtjidels 
have  presumptuously  done,  'that  lie  should  have  appeared  to 
them,  if  he  expected  they  should  believe  he  uas  risen/*  But 
what  assurance  can  we  have  th;it  the  same  prejudices  which 
overbore  tlie  testimony  of  the  soldiers,  might  not  also  have  re- 
sisted even  the  appearance  ol  Christ  himself?  Or,  rather,  that 
the  obstinacy  which  led  fhem  to  overbear  conscience  in  one 
instance,  might  not  have  dune  it  in  the  other?  Justly  therefore 
did  God  deny  what  wantonness,  and  not  reason,  might  lead 
them  to  demand  :  justly  did  he  give  them  up  to  dishonour  their 
own  understandings,  as  well  as  their  moral  character,  by  this 
mean  and  ridiculous  tale,  which  brought  men  to  testify  what 
was  done  while  they  were  asleep. 

The  most  that  common  sense  could  make  oi their  report  had 
they  deserved  the  character  of  honest  men,  would  have  been, 
that  they  knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  And  we  have  a  thou- 
sand times  more  reason  to  admire  (he  condescensimi  of  God,  in 
sending  iiis  apostles  to  these  v;icked  rulers  with  such  additional 
proofs  and  messages,  than  to  censure  his  providence  in  prtnent- 
ing  Christ's  public  appearance.  May  he  deliver  us  from  the 
treachery  and  corruption  of  our  own  hearts  '.  May  he  give  us  a 
holy  tenderness  and  integrity  of  soul,  that  we  may  see  truth 
wheresoe-'er  it  is,  and  may  follow  it  whithersoever  it  leads  us; 
lest  God  should  choose  our  d  lusions,  and  give  us  up  in  his 
righteous  iiidj;ment  to  believe  a  lie,  and  to  think  ourselves  wise 
in  that  credulous  injidclily  which  is  destroying  its  ten  thousands 
umon^st  us ! 


SECTION  III. 

Mark  XVI  0.     Luke  xxiv.  12.    John  xx   1  —  17. 

The  first  day  of  the  week  cometh  Mary  Magdalene 
early,  when  it  was  yet  dark,  unto  the  sepulchre,  and 

35 


398  HARMONY    OP  THE 

seeth  the  stone  taken  away  from  the  sepulchre.  Then 
she  runneth  and  cometh  to  Simon  Pcter>  and  to  the 
other  disciple,  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  saith  unto  them, 
They,  have  taken  away  the  Lord  out  of  the  sepulchre, 
and  we  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him  :  It  was 
Mary  Magdalene,  Joanna,  and  Mary  the  mother  of 
James,  and  olher  women  that  icere  with  them,  which 
told  these  things  unto  the  apostles.  Then  aros^  Peter 
and  that  other  disciple  ;  and  came  to  the  sepulchre. 
So  they  ran  both  together:  and  the  other  disciple  did 
outrun  Peter,  and  came  first  to  the  sepulchre.  And  he 
stooping  down,  and  looking  in,  saw  the  linen  clothes 
lying  ;  yet  went  he  not  in.  Then  coraelii  Simon  Peter 
following  him,  and  went  into  tiie  sepulciire,  and  seeth 
the  linen  clothes  lie,  and  the  napkin  that  was  about  his 
head,  not  lying  with  the  linen  clothes,  but  wrapped 
together  in  a  place  by  itself.  Then  went  in  also  that 
other  disciple,  which  came  first  to  the  sepulchre,  and 
he  saw,  and  believed.  For  as  yet  tlicy  knew  not  the 
scripture,  that  he  must  rise  again  from  llie  dead.  Then 
the  disciples  went  away  again  unto  their  own  home, 
wondering  at  that  which  was  come  to  pass. 

Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  he  appeared  first  to  Mary  Magilalene,  out  of 
whom  he  had  cast  seven  devils.  But  she  stood 
without  at  the  sepulchre  weeping:  and  as  she  wept  she 
stooped  down,  and  looked  into  the  sepulchre  ;  and  seeth 
two  angels  in  white  sitting,  the  one  at  the  head,  and  the 
other  at  the  feet,  where  the  body  of  Jesus  had  lain. 
And  they  say  unto  her.  Woman,  why  weepcst  thou  ? 
She  saith  unto  them,  Because  they  have  taken  away  my 
Lord,  and  1  know  not  where  they  have  laid  him.  And 
when  she  had  thus  said,  she  turned  herself  back,  and 
saw  Jesus  standing,  and  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 
Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Woman,  why  weepcst  thou  ? 
whom  seekest  thou  ?  She,  supposing  him  to  be  the  gar- 
dener, saith  unto  him.  Sir,  if  thou  have  borne  him 
hence,  lell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  him,  and  I  will 
take  him  away.     Jesus  saith   unto  her,    Mary.     She 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  399 

turned  herself,  and  saith  unto  him,  Rahboni  ;  which  is 
to  say,  Master.  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not ; 
for  I  am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father :  but  go  to 
my  brethi(  n,  and  say  unto  them,  I  ascend  unto  my 
Father,  and  your  Father  ;  and  to  ray  God,  and  your 
God. 

Let  the  Tailh  ofwhtit  has  been  done  with  regard  to  onr 
glorififid  Htad,  and  shall  at  length  be  aocon)[)lished  with  res- 
pect to  all  his  numbers,  daily  gladden  our  hearts.  When  our 
eyes  are  wftping,  atul  our  souls  finking  within  n?,  let  us  raise 
our  thoughts  to  Jtsus  our  ristn,  and  now  nsctndtd  Rtdeemcr^ 
who  says  lo  all  his  brethren  these  gracious  words  (which  may 
justly  be  rcceiveil  with  transports  of  astonishment,  and  fill  our 
heartsat  the  same  time  fiilh  jot/  li.  neakable,  and  full  ofglori/)^ 
''^  J  ascend  lo  my  Fatker  and  your  Father,  and  to  my  God  and 
your  God.^'' 

The  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  now, 
through  (he  deatli  and  resurrection  of  his  dear  Son  (whom  by 
raising  him  from  the  dead  he  has  so  solemnly  owned  under  that 
relation),  become  our  Father  rnd  our  God.  As  such  let  us 
honour  him.  love  him,  and  rejoice  in  him  :  and  when  we  must 
leave  this  world,  which  Christ  has  long  since  left,  let  it  delight 
oursouls  to  (hitdi  that  we  siiall  likewise  ascend  after  him,  and 
dwell  witJi  him  in  his  propitious  Divine  presence.  In  the  mean 
time,  if  ue  are  rism  with  Christ,  let  us  seek  ihofie  things  which 
are  above,  nhere  Christ  now  siltelh  at  the  right-hand  of  Godt 
(Col.  iii.  1.  ;)  and  let  us  be  willing,  in  whatever  sense  God 
shall  appoint,  to  be  made  conformable  to  Iiis  dtalh,  that  we  may 
also  he  partakLTS  of  his  resurrection  and  glory.  (Phil.  iii.  10, 
11.) 


SECTION  IV. 

Mark  XVI.  10 — 13.  Luke  xxiv.  14 — 35.  John  xx,  10. 

And  Mary  Magdalene  came  to  the  disciples,  as  they 
mourned  and  wept,  and  told  them,  that  she  had  seen 
the  Lord,  and  that  he  had  spoken  these  things  unto  her. 
And  they,  when  they  had  heard  that  he  was  alive,  and 
had  been  seen  of  her,  believed  not. 


400  HARMONY  OP  THE 

After  that  he  appeared  in  another  form  unto  two  of 
them.  For  behold  two  of  iheni  went  that  same  day  into 
the  country,  to  a  village  called  Emmaus,  which  was 
from  Jerusalem  about  three-score  furlongs.  And  they 
talked  together  of  all  these  things  which  had  happened. 
And  it  came  t'"  pass,  that,  while  they  communed  together 
and  reasoned,  Jesus  himself  drew  near,  and  went  with 
them.  But  their  eyes  were  holden  that  they  should 
not  know  him.  And  lie  said  unto  them,  What  manner 
of  communications  ore  these  that  ye  have  one  to  ano- 
ther, as  ye  walk,  and  are  sad  ? 

And  the  one  of  them,  whose  name  was  Clcopas, 
answering  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  only  a  stranger  in 
Jerusalem,  and  hast  not  known  the  things  which  are 
come  to  pass  there  in  these  days  ?  And  he  said  unto 
them.  What  things  ?  And  they  said  unto  him,  Concern- 
ing  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  wliich  was  a  prof)het,  mighty  in 
deed  and  word  before  God  and  all  the  people :  and  how 
the  chief  priests  and  our  rulers  delivered  him  to  be  con' 
demned  to  death,  and  have  crucified  him.  But  we 
trusted  thaf  it  had  been  he  which  shoul:!  have  redeem- 
ed Israel :  and  beside  all  this,  to  day  is  the  third  day 
since  these  things  were  done.  Yea,  and  certain  wo- 
men also  of  our  company  made  us  astonished,  which 
were  early  at  the  sepulchre  ;  and  when  they  found  not 
his  body,  they  came,  saying,  that  they  had  also  seen  a 
vision  of  angels,  which  said  that  he  was  alive.  And 
certain  of  them  which  were  with  us  went  to  the  sepul- 
chre, and  found  it  even  so  as  the  women  had  said  :  but 
him  they  saw  not. 

Then  he  said  unto  them,  O  fools,  and  slow  of  heart 
to  believe  all  that  the  prophets  have  spoken  :  Ought 
not  Christ  to  have  suffered  these  things,  and  to  enter 
into  his  glory  ?  And  beginning  at  Moses  and  all  the 
prophets,  he  expounded  unto  them  in  all  the  scrip- 
tures the  things  concerning  himself  And  they  drew 
nigh  unto  the  village,  whither  they  went;  and  he  made 
as  though  he  would  have  gone  further.  But  they  con- 
itrained  him,  saying,  Abide  with  us :  for  it  is  toward 


POUR    CK)SPELS.  401 

evening-,  and  the  day  is  far  spent. — And  he  went  in  to 
tarry  with  (hem.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sat  at 
meat  with  them,  he  took  bread,  and  blessed  iff  and 
brake,  and  gave  to  them.  And  their  eyes  were  opened, 
and  they  knew  liim  ;  and  he  vanished  out  of  their  sight. 
And  they  said  one  to  another.  Did  not  our  heart  burn 
within  us,  while  he  talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  while 
he  opened  to  us  the  scriptures?  And  they  rose  up  the 
same  hour,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  found  the 
eleven  gathered  together,  and  them  that  were  with  them, 
saying,  The  Lord  is  risen  indeed,  and  hath  appeared  to 
Simon.  And  they  told  what  tliinj^s  were  done  in  the 
way,  and  how  he  was  known  of  them  in  breaking  of 
bread.     Neither  believed  they  them. 


How  delightful  a  clo5e  of  so  melancholy  a  dai/  to  lhe?e  pious 
travellers!  adai/  surely  h'nj?  to  be  remembered  by  them  and  by 
us!  They  wave  un  a  journey  ;  but  they  did  not  amuse  them- 
aelves  otiil  uitli  any  triflin'^  subject  ofdiscourje.  T\\Q\r  hearts 
were  set  upon  Christ,  and  therefore  their  longues  were  employ- 
ed in  speaking  of  liim.  And  behold,  Christ  himself,  the  dear 
theme  of  their  discourse,  makes  one  among  them  ;  he  enlight- 
ens their  eyes  and  warms  their  hearts,  and  at  length  makes  hini' 
self  kriomn  to  them  in  the  breaking  of  bread. 

So  may  we  often  be  speaking  of  Christ,  from  the  fulness  of 
our  hearts,  vhcn  ue  go  out,  and  xi'hen  we  comt  in  I  So  may  he 
still,  in  some  degree,  /(j?;i  hims'tlf  xcilh  us  in  spirit,  guiding  cur 
souls  into  Divine  knowledge,  and  animating  them  with  holy 
love!  • 

They  bear  an  honourable  and  a  just  testimony  to  that  great 
Prophet  whom  God  had  raised  up  for  Iheni.  as  mighli/ before  him 
both  in  word  and  deed.  Bui  iLey  knev/  not  how  to  see  through 
so  dark  a  cloud  :  their  hopes  were  almost  extinguished,  and 
they  could  only  say.  We  trusted  this  had  been  Iip.  that  should 
have  redeemid  Israel.  Pitiable  weakness  !  Yet  too  ju>t  an  em- 
blem of  the  temper  which  often  prevails  in  the  pious  mind  ; 
when  the  Christian  is  ready  to  give  up  all,  if  rfeZ<t;erer/ce  does 
not  proceed  jist  in  the  method  he  expected.  Yet  was  Christ 
even  then  delivering  Israd  in  the  most  glorious  and  effectual 
manner,  by  those  very  suffering'^  v/hinh  g;ive  them  such  dis- 
tress. Verily  thou  art  the  God  of  Israel,  and  the  Saviour^  when 
thou  art  a  God  that  hidtst  thyself  from  us.  (Isa  xlv.  15.) 

35* 


402  HARMONY    OP   THE 

lu  faithful  friendship,  and  with  a  plainness  well  becoming  his 
office,  the  compassionate  Redeemer  upbraids  them  with  their 
slowness  of  heart  to  believe  these  things,  when  they  had  receiv- 
ed line  upon  li?ie^ precept  upon  precept^  concernivg  them.  How 
justly  do  we  fall  under  such  a  rebuke  in  many  instances!  Let 
US  then  humbly  say.  Lord,  increase  ourfaitk!  (Luke  xvii. 
5.) 

We  should  reasonably  have  thought  ourselves  happy  in  an 
opportunity  of  hearing  or  reading  this  discourse  of  Jesus,  in 
which  he  threw  such  lustre  on  Ihe  prophecies  of  the  Old  Testa- 
me7it.,  and  provrid  that  according  to  the  tenor  of  them,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  Mesiah  should  thus  suffer,  and  so  enter  into 
his  glory.  As  providence  has  denied  us  this  satisfaction,  let  U9 
however  improve  this  general  and  very  important  hint,  that 
Moses  and  all  the  prophets  speak  of  these  things.  Let  us  delight 
to  trace  the  heavenly  beam  from  its  earliest  dawn,  and  to  ob- 
serve how  it  grew  brighter  and  brighter  unto  the  perfect  day. 
May  the  blessed  Spirit,  by  whom  those  mysterious  predictions 
were  inspired,  so  direct  our  inquiries,  that  every  veil  may  be 
taken  off  from  our  eyes,  that  we  may  see  Jtsus  in  the  Old  Tes- 
tametit  as  well  as  in  the  Act*;  and  see  him  in  both  with  that 
lively  fervour  of  holy  affection  which  may  cause  our  hearts  to 
burn  within  us  !  And  oh,  that  we  may  especially  find  that, 
when  we  surround  his  fable  he  makes  himself  known  to  usin  the 
breaking  of  bread,  in  such  a  manner,  as  iojill  our  souls  with  all 
joy,  as  well  ^.s  peace  in  believing  !  (Rom.  xv.  13  ) 


SECTION  V. 

Luke  xxiv.  36 — 43.     John  xx-  19 — 23. 

Then  the  same  day  at  evening,  being  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  when  the  doors  were  shut  where  the  disciples 
weVe  assennbled  for  fear  of  the  Jews,  and  as  they  thus 
spake,  came  Jesus,  and  stood  in  the  midst  of  them,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Peace  he  unto  you>  But  they  were 
terrified  and  affrighted,  and  supposed  that  they  had  seen 
a  spirit.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Why  are  ye  troubled  ? 
and  why  do  thoughts  arise  in  your  hearts  ?  Behold  my 
hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  is  I  myself;  handle  me,  and 
see  ;  for  a  spirit  bath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me 
have. 


POUS    G06FBLS.  403 

And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  shewed  them  his 
hands,  and  his  feet,  and  his  side.  Then  were  the  dis- 
ciples glad,  when  they  saw  the  Lord.  And  while  they 
yet  beheved  not  for  joy,  and  wondered,  he  said  unto 
them,  Have  ye  here  meat  ?  And  they  gave  him  a 
piece  of  a  broiled  fish,  and  of  an  honeycomb  ;  and  he 
took  it,  and  eat  before  them. 

Then  said  Jesus  to  them  again.  Peace  be  unto  you  : 
As  my  Father  liath  sent  me,  even  so  I  send  you.  And 
when  he  had  said  this,  he  breathed  on  ihe7n,  and  saith 
unto  thera,  Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost :  Whosoever  sins 
ye  remit,  they  arc  remitted  unto  them  ;  and  whosoever 
sins  ye  retain,  they  are  retained. 

With  pleasure  let  us  echo  back  the  words  of  the  apostle,  and 
joiQ  in  that  glad  anthem  which  so  well  suits  a  resurrection-day, 
The  Lord  is  risen:  he  is  risen  indeed.  We  owe  our  daily  praises 
to  God  for  the  abundant  demonstration  he  has  ^iven  us  ot  so  im- 
portant a  fact,  for  every  appearance  ofChtist  to  h\^  disciples,  and 
for  all  the  infallible  tokens  by  which  he  shewed  himself  io  be  alive 
after  his  passion.     ( Acts  i.  3. ) 

He  came  with  peace  and  blessings  in  his  mouth ;  he  came  to 
disperse  Iheir fears,  and  to  assuie  them  ot  his  forgiving:  love.  How 
strong  were  tho-e  prejudices  which  so  hardly  yielded  to  such  con- 
vincing proofs  ?  And  liow  rich  was  thatg^race  which  condescended 
to  overcome  them ! 

Christ  breathed  on  the  apostles,  that  they  might  receive  the 
Holy  Spirit.  May  he  also  breathe  on  our  souls,  and  fill  us  with 
that  glorious  and  Divine  gift,  which,  if  it  qualified  the  apostles  for 
their  extraordinary  office,  may  much  more  furnish  us  lor  the  com- 
mon duties  of  life  !  Mity  we  try  our  state  by  the  characters  which 
they  have  laid  down  in  their  inspired  wiitings  ;  in  which  sense, 
among  others,  we  may  assure  ourselves,  that,  if  they  have  declared 
our  sins  to  be  remitted,  they  arc  remitted  ;  and,  if  indeed  Uiey  are 
80,  we  need  not  to  be  much  concerned  by  whom  they  are  retained. 
Vain  and  arrogant  men  may  claim  a  despotic  power,  which  God 
never  gave,  and  which  these  words  are  far  fiom  implying.  But, 
whatsoever  be  the  sentence  they  may  pass,  they  whom  God  bless- 
eth,  are  blessed  indeed.  (I  Chron.  xvii  27.)  May  we  always 
esteem  it  a  very  small  thing  to  be  judged  of  man's  judgment, 
(1  Cor.  iv,3,)  pitying,  rather  than  resenting,  the  rashness  of  those 
who  claim  any  such  discretionary  sacerdotal  power  as  can  give 
the  real  penitent  any  alarm,  or  the  impenitent  any  encouiagement 
to  continue  in  sin ! 


404  HABHOIVY    OP   THE 

SECTION  VI. 

Mark  xvi.  14.     Joiiif  xx.  24 — 29, 

BxjT  Thomas,  one  of  the  twelve,  called  Didynuis,  was 
not  with  ihem  when  Jesus  came.  'J'he  other  disciples 
therefore  said  unto  him.  We  have  seen  the  Lord.  But 
he  said  unto  them,  Except  I  shall  see  in  his  hands  the 
print  of  the  nails,  and  put  my  finger  into  the  print  of  the 
nails,  and  thrust  my  hand  into  his  side,  I  will  not  be- 
lieve. 

And  after  cif^ht  days  again  his  eleven  disciples  were 
within,  and  Tliomas  with  them  :  then  came  Jesus,  the 
doors  being  shut,  and  stood  in  the  midst  as  they  sat  at 
meat,  and  said.  Peace  be  unto  you  :  and  he  upbraided 
them  with  their  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart,  because 
they  believed  not  them  which  had  seen  him  after  he  was 
risen.  Then  sailh  he  to  Thomas,  reach  hither  thy  finger, 
and  behold  my  hands  ;  and  reach  hither  thy  hand,  and 
thrust  it  into  my  side  :  and  be  not  faithless,  l)ut  believing. 
And  Thomas  answered  and  said  un*o  him,  My  Lord  and 
my  God.  Jesus  saith  unto  liim,  'J'homas,  because  thou 
hast  seen  me,  thou  hast  believed  :  Blessed  are  they  that 
have  not  seen,  and  yel  have  believed. 

We  most  evidently  see  in  this  instance  of  Thomas,  as  well  as 
in  many  cucumst.inccs  of  ihe  story  mentioncil  above,  how  far  the 
apostles  weie  from  being  ias>hly  crtduloiis  in  the  important  fact  of 
Christ's  resxirreciinn.  It  is  aj^parent,  liiey  eired  in  the  cc»ntrary 
exTierne:  yet  om  gracious  Lord  condescended  to  satisfy  scruples 
which  weie  carried  to  an  extiavaganee.  He  renewed  his  visitt 
and  at  the  soine  time  renewed  his  salutation  too,  Peace  be  unto 
you  was  still  his  I,mgiia2;e;  nor  did  he  only  speak,  but  act,  as  one 
who  wislied  it,  and  was  deterndned  to  give  it. 

What  pfoce  must  it  administer  to  tiie  mind  of  this  good  man 
when  his  Lord  said.  Beach  hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my 
hands,  and  reach  hither  thine  hand,  and  pat  it  into  my  side :  and 
be  not  faithless^  but  believing!  Evidently  did  he  hereby  shew, 
not  only  that  he  was  risen  ft  om  the  dead,  but  that  he  circumstan- 
tially hneto  those  events  which  had  passed  in  his  bodily  absence. 


POUR  GOSPELS.  405 

and  needed  not  human  information.  Let  us  then  ever  behave  our- 
selves as  in  t?ie  presence  of  Christ.  Let  us  act,  and  speak,  and 
think,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  bear  his  inspection;  and,  struck 
with  these  united  demonstrations  of  wisdom,  power,  and  grace, 
let  us  prostrate  ourselves  before  him,  and  say,  Our  Lord,  and  our 
God!  thus  honouring  the  Son  as  we  hon^^ur  the  Father  (John  v. 
23,)  and  adoring  the  indwelling  Deity,  through  this  veil  of  fleak, 
in  which  it  has  been  pleased  to  enshrine  itself,  and  kindly  to  at- 
temper, though  not  entirely  to  conceal,  its  rays. 

Though  we  have  not  those  sensible  manitestations  which  were 
granted  to  Thomas,  let  it  suffice  us  thai  the  apostles  were  the  ap- 
pointed witnesses  of  all  these  things ;  and  what  they  saw  with 
their  eyes,  and  tkeir  hands  handled  itf  the  word  life,  that  they  have 
declared  unto  us.  (1  Johni.  1,3.)  Let  us  thankfully  receive  so  con- 
vincing a  testimony.  J.et  us  shew  an  upright  and  candid  uiind  in 
accepting  5Mc/i  evidence  as  the  wisdom  of  God  has  seen  fit  to  give 
us;  remembering  that  a  truly  rational /ai</i  is  the  more  acceptable 
to  God,  in  proportion  to  the  difficulties  which  it  is-  able  to  gur- 
mount ,  and  (hit  there  are  peculiar  blessings  in  store  for  them 
who  hane  not  seen  and  yet  have  believed. 


SECTION   VII. 

Matthew  xxviii.  9,  10,  IG — 20.    1  Cor.  xv.  6. 

And  as  they  went  to  tell  his  disciples,  behold,  Jesus  met 
them,  saying,  AH  hail.  And  tliey  came  and  held  him  by 
the  feet  and  worshipped  him.  Then  said  Jesus  unto 
them,  Be  not  afraid  :  go  tell  my  brethren  that  they  go 
into  Galilee,  and  there  shall  they  see  me. 

Then  the  eleven  disciples  went  away  into  Galilee,  into 
a  taountain  where  Jesus  had  appointed  them  :  {and  there 
ujcre  about  five  hundred  brethren ^a^Aere^i  together  there,) 
and  he  was  seen  of  them  all  at  once ;  of  whom  the 
greater  part  remain  unto  this  present,  but  some  are 
fallen  asleep.  And  when  they  saw  him,  they  worshipped 
him :  but  some  doubted.  And  Jesus  came  and  spake 
unto  them  saying,  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
and  in  earth.  Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  nations  bap- 
tizing them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Iloly  Ghost :  Teaching  them  to  observti  all 


406  ^AKMO^^Y  of  the 

things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  yon.     And  lo,  I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  \ypiltl. 

Go  fell  my  brethren:  Lord,  is  thy  laris:ua^e  concerning  those 
who  but  a  few  hours  before  had  forsaken  thee,  and  one  of  them 
with  such  dreadlul  imprecations  denied  thee  !  Compassionate 
Redeenier !  thou  hast  brou£;lit  up  horn  the  tonib  with  thee  that 
tenderness  and  j:;oodness  wiiich  laid  thee  there  I 

With  how  ill  a  giace  could  the  Jetvs  ronipl.iin  of  any  deficiency 
in  the  evidence  of  our  Lord's  resurrection,  when  t)e  appeared 
alive  to  so  o;reat  a  number  as  Jive  hwiihed  at  once !  How  glad 
must  these  disciples  be  when  they  saw  the  Lord  I  and  with  what 
pleasure  must  they  hear  him  sj)caJiing  of  these  things  which  COU' 
cerned  the  kingdom  of  God! 

The  commission  he  gave  his  apostles,  thouo;h  it  began  at  lent- 
saleni,  did  not  end  there  ;  nor  was  it  conhned  within  the  narrow 
limits  ol  fudea  ;  but  they  were  appointed  to  go  into  all  the  world, 
and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  We  (o  this  day,  in  our 
remote  land,  enjoy  ihe  benefit  ol  it.  Let  us  remember  the  impor- 
tant consequences  th:it  will  one  way  or  another  attend  the  gospel 
thus  brought  us.  If  we  believe  it,  we  shall  be  saved ;  but  if  we 
believe  it  not,  we  shall  be  damned.  Life,  or  death,  0  my  soul,  is 
the  certain  issue  of  it,  with  regard  to  thee  in  particular.  £e  surety 
to  thy  servant,  O  L^rd,  for  good  (Psalm  cxix.  122J  and  let  my 
life  be  precious  in  thy  sight .' 


SECTION  VIII. 

John  xxi.  1 — 14. 

After  these  tilings  Jesus  shewed  himself  again  to  the 
disciples  at  the  sea  of 'J'ibeiias ;  and  on  this  wise  shew- 
ed he  himself.  There  were  together  Simon  Peter,  and 
Thomas  called  Didymns,  and  Nathanael  ofCana  in  Ga- 
lilee, and  the  sons  ofZebedee,  and  two  other  of  his  dis- 
ciples. Simon  Peter  saith  unto  them,  1  go  a  fishing. 
They  say  unto  him,  We  also  go  witli  thee.  They  went 
forth,  and  ientered  into  a  ship  immediately;  and  that 
night  they  caught  nothing.  But  when  the  morning  was 
now  come,  Jesus  stood  on  the  shore  :  but  the  disciples 
knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus.  Then  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  407 

Children,  have  ye  any  meat  ?  They  answered  him,  No. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Cast  the  net  on  the  right  side  of 
the  ship,  and  ye  shall  find.  They  cast  therefore,  and 
now  they  were  not  able  to  draw  it  for  the  mutitude  of 
fishes. 

Therefore  that  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved  saith  unto 
Peter,  It  is  tiie  Lord.  Now  when  Simon  Peter  heard 
that  it  was  the  Lord,  he  girt  his  fisher's  coat  unto  him, 
(for  he  was  naked,)  and  did  cast  himself  into  the  sea. 
And  the  o'tlier  disciples  came  in  a  lillle  ship  ;  (for  they 
were  not  far  from  land,  but  as  two  hundred  cubits,) 
dragging  the  net  with  fishes.  As  soon  tlien  as  they  were 
come  to  land,  they  saw  a  fire  of  coals  there,  and  fish 
laid  thereon,  and  bread.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Bring 
of  the  fish  which  ye  have  now  caught.  Simon  Peter 
went  up,  and  drew  tlie  net  to  land  full  of  great  fishes,  an 
hundred  and  fifty  and  tliree  :  and  for  all  there  were  so 
many,  yet  was  not  the  net  broken.  Jesus  s:\ith  unto 
them,  Come  and  dine.  And  none  of  the  disciples  durst 
ask  him,  Who  art  thou  ?  knowing  tiiat  it  was  the  Lord. 
Jesus  then  comcth,  and  taketli  bread,  and  giveth  them, 
and  fish  likewise.  This  is  now  the  third  time  that  Jesus 
shev  ed  himself  to  his  disciples,  after  that  he  was  risen 
from  the  dead. 

Christ  first  crtUcd  [hese  disciples  when  tliey  were  employed 
in  the  duties  of  their  proper  profession  in  life,  and  he  now  mani' 
fcsls  himself  to '.hem  wliilethey  were  so  engaged  ;  perlinps  par- 
ticuhirly  intending  thereby  to  encourage  an  honest  industry  in 
which  indeed  we  are  far  more  likely  to  enjoy  his  presence,  and 
to  converse  with  him,  than  when  we  throw  away  our  lime  in 
idleness  and  inactivity. 

A  while  he  leaves  tliem  to  labour  in  vain^  that  when  the 
plentiful  dranglit  of  Jishes  came,  it  mi^ht  be  the  more  remark- 
able. Sometimes  lie  may  doal  thus  with  his  ministers^  in  their 
endeavours  to  cntch  men;  that  we  mny  be  convinced  thereby, 
to  whose  power  we  owe  our  success,  and  may  not  sacrifice  to 
our  own  net,  or  burn  incense  to  our  own  drag.     (Hab.  i.  16.) 

Ail  the  disciplts  rejoiced  at  his  appearance  ;  but  Peter  wa-9 
the  foremost  to  cast  himself  at  his  feet.  Conscious  that  so 
much  had  been  forgiven  him.,  he  is  solicitous  to  shew  that  he 
/<w«  much,  (Luke  vii.  47.)     So  may  the  remembrauce  of  our 


4d8  HARMONY    OF   THE 

miscarriages  work  upon  us,  to  make  us  more  v.igorotis  in 
CAm/'j  service,  and  to  inspire  us  with  such  Zealand  affection  as 
many  waters  may  not  be  able  to  quench^  nor  the  floods  to  drotoni 
(Cant.  viii.  7.) 

Let  us  not  imagine  this  miracle  was  merely  intended  for  a 
demonstration  of  Chrisl''s  Divine  power  over  all  that  passeth 
through  the  paths  of  the  sea,  (Psalm  viii.  8;)  it  was  also  the 
work  of  wisdom  and  bounty.  By  the  sale  of  so  many  large  and 
^nG fishes  a  seasonable  provision  was  made  for  the  subsistence 
of  his  dwc//3/e*  a/ J^erwia/em,  while  they  were  there  wailing  f»r 
the  descent  of  the  iSpirit,  (Luke  xxiv.  49.)  Let  every  circum- 
stance of  this  kind  encourage  us  to  trust  him,  as  the  Lord  of 
nature  and  of  grace^  who  will  withhold  from  us  no  necessary 
supply  of  either,  while  we  are  making-  it  our  humble  and  faith- 
ful care  to  promote  his  glory. 


SECTION  IX. 

John  xxi.  15 — 24. 

So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  sailh  IQ  Simon  Peter, 
Simon,  son  of  Jfonas,  loves  ihou  me  more  than  these  ? 
He  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that  I 
love  thee.  He  sailh  unto  him,  Feed  my  lambs.  He  saith 
to  him  again  the  second  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  ?  he  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that 
I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto  him.  Feed  my  sheep.  He  saith 
unto  him  the  third  time,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  ?  Peter  was  grieved  because  he  said  unto  him 
the  third  time,  Lovest  thou  me  ?  and  he  said  unto  him, 
Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  sheep.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  when  thou  wast  young,  thou  gir- 
dest  thyself,  and  walkedst  whither  thou  wouldest :  but 
when  thou  shalt  be  old,  thou  shalt  stretch  forth  thy  hands 
and  anotlier  shall  gird  thee,  and  carry  thee  whither  thou 
wouldest  not.  This  spake  he,  signifying  by  what  death 
he  should  glorify  God.  And  when  he  had  spoken  this, 
he  saith  unto  him,  Follow  me. 


FOUR    GOSPELS.  409 

Then  Peter,  turning  about,  seeth  the  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loved  following  ;  which  also  leaned  on  his  breast 
at  supper,  and  said,  Lord,  which  is  he  that  betrayeth 
thee  ?  Peter  seeing  him  saith  to  Jesus,  Lord,  and  what 
shall  this  man  do  ?  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  If  I  will  that 
he  tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to  thee  ?  Follow  thou 
me»  Then  went  this  saying  abroad  among  the  breth- 
ren, that  that  disciple  should  not  die  :  yet  Jesus  said  not 
unto  him,  he  shall  not  die  ;  but,  if  I  will  that  he  tarry 
till  1  come,  what  i?  that  to  thee.  This  is  the 
disciple  which  testifieth  of  these  things,  and  wrote  these 
things  :  and  we  know  that  his  testimony  is  true. 


What  if  ovx  Lord  Jesus  Christ  should  put  the  same  question 
to  us  that  he  did  to  Peter,  in  this  remarkable  passage,  and 
should  thus  repeal  it  again  and  again?  Are  there  none  of  us 
who  should  be  at  a  loss  for  an  answer?  None  of  us  to  whom 
he  might  say,  /  kiiow  thai  you  have  not  the  love  of  Christ  inyou  ? 
Or  are  there  none  of  us  who  apprehend,  that,  if  we  had  oui- 
selves  been  thus  pressed,  we  could  at  the  very  best,  only  have 
said,  Lord,  thou  that  knowest  all  things,  knotvest  that  I  cannot 
tell  whether  I  love  thee  or  not? — Blush,  and  be  confounded,  O 
my  soul,  if  thou  must  reply  with  such  uncertainty  to  a  ques- 
tion of  so  great  importance,  and  in  a  case  where  all  the  ardour 
of  the  heart  might  be  so  justly  expected. 

But  are  there  not  still  some  of  us  who  through  Divine  grace 
could  reply  with  pleasure,  Lord,  thou  knewest  alt  things,  thou 
knowest  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  unhallowed  and  lamented 
infirmities  of  our  lives,  we  do  indeed  love  thte? — And,  if  we 
are  thus  really  conscious  to  ourselves  of  such  an  unfeigned  af- 
fection, let  it  be  our  daily  joy,  that  he  who  implanted  this  Di- 
vine principle  in  our  hearts,  discerns  and  sees  it  there;  and, 
knowing  all  thimrs,  he  perfectly  knows  this,  however  we  may 
be  suspected,  however  we  may  be  censured. 

Let  us  learn  also  by  what  method  we  are  to  express  our  love^ 
according  to  our  ability  and  opportunity;  even  by  feeding  hia 
sheep,  9.\h\  promoting  the  interest  and  edification  of  his  church. 
Let  ministers  especially  do  it;  and  let  them  not  forget  those 
dear  creatures,  the  lambs  of  the  flock.  Jesus  the  compassionate 
Shepherd  as  we  see,  did  not  forget  them  ;  but  taught  his  servants 
-vith  the  greatest  tenderness  both  by  his  precepts,  and  by  his  ex- 
ample, to  gather  them  in  their  arms,  and  carry  thtm  in  their 
bosom.     (Isa.  xl.  11.) 

36 


410  HARMONY  OF  THE 

Happy  are  those  ministers  who,  instead  of  indolging  a  vain 
curiosity  in  things  wherein  they  are  not  at  all,  or  but  very  lit- 
tle concerned,  are  spending  their  lives  in  such  faithful  services  ; 
feeding  Ihejlock  of  God :  and  taking  the  oversight  of  it,  not  by 
constraint,  but  willingly ;  not  for  filthy  lucre,  but  of  a  ready 
mind ;  that  icheji  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  they  may  re- 
ceive an  unfading  croivn  of  glory ;  (1  Pet.  v.  2,  4,)  a  crown, 
which  will  infinitely  more  than  repay,  not  only  their  labours^ 
but  their  sufferings  too  ! 

Happy  Peler  who,  having  worn  out  his  better  years  in  the 
service  of  Christ,  courageously  stretched  out  his  aged  arms  to 
be  bound,  and,  being  boi-nc  away  to  tortures  and  death,  shed 
the  last  slow  ebb  of  his  blood  as  a  martyr  for  him  who  had  loved 
him  a7id  given  himself  for  him. — And  not  less  happy  the  beloved 
disciple,  so  willing  to  hazard  his  life  in  the  same  cause  ;  though 
he  was  not  in  fact  called  to  lay  it  down  as  a  martyr!  Our  gra- 
cious Lord,  who  sees  every  purpose,  and  every  affection,  as  it 
rises  in  the  heart,  favourably  acapts  of  the  willing  mind,  and 
will,  through  the  riches  of  his  grace,  entitle  them  to  the  reward 
of  equal  sutfering,  who  have  waited  with  a  like  readiness, 
though  they  have  not  been  called  out  to  -he  severity  of  the 
like  trial. 


SECTION  X. 

I  Cor.  XV.  7.     Luke  xxiv,  44 — 49.     Acts  i.  4. 

After  that,  he  was  seen  of  James  ;  then  of  all  the 
apostles.  And  being  assembled  together  with  them,  he 
commanded  them  that  they  should  not  depart  from  Je- 
rusalem, but  wait  for  the  promise  of  the  Father,  which, 
saith  he,  ye  have  heard  of  me. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  These  are  the  words  which 
I  spake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you,  that  all 
thin£rs  must  be  fulfilled,  which  were  written  in  the  law 
of  Moses,  and  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  Psalms,  con- 
cerning me.  Then  opened  he  their  understanding,  that 
they  might  understand  the  scriptures,  and  said  unto 
them,  Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it  behoved  Christ  to 
suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the  third  day  :  and  that 
repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be  preached  in 


FOUR  GOSPELS.  411 

his  name  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem. 
And  ye  are  witnesses  of  these  tilings.  For  John  truly 
baptized  with  water  ;  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the 
Holy  Ghost  not  many  days  hence. 

We  have  surely  perpetual  reason  for  thankfulness,  when  we 
think  of  that  commission  which  Christ  gave  to  his  disciples  :  uor 
is  it  a  circumstance  of  little  importance,  that  they  had  it  in  charge, 
when  they  published  this  message  of  grace,  to  begin  at  Jerusa- 
lem; though  the  religious  opportunities  that  were  abused  by  that 
ungrateful  city  had  already  been  so  great,  and  their  provocations 
so  many.  Amazing  condescension  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  that 
he  sent  his  ambassadors  of  peace  to  them  when  they  had  hardly 
laid  aside  the  weapons  with  which  they  had  slain  him,  and  were 
scarce  rested  after  the  cruel  fati.gue  which  their  officious  malice 
had  given  them  in  abetting  his  murder !  Behold,  he  offers  them 
all  the  invaluable  blessings  purchased  by  his  blood,  while  it  was 
yet,  as  we  may  say,  warm  upon  mount  Calvary  .'  and  on  the 
same  principles,  even  unto  this  day,  where  sin  hath  aboU7ided, 
there  is  grace  abounding  much  more.     (Rom.  v.  20.) 

Christ  opened  the  understanding  of  the  apostles,  to  apprehend 
the  sense  of  scripture.  Let  us  study  that  sacred  book  with  a 
humble  dependance  upon  the  aid  of  that  blessed  Spirit  by  whom 
it  was  dictated.  And  let  these  apostles  who  were  thus  divinely 
taught,  be  reverently  regarded  as  our  surest  guides,  when  we  are 
studying  the  oracles  of  the  Old  Ttstament ;  considering  the  ex- 
traordinary commission  with  which  Christ  sent  them  forth,  the 
power  from  on  high  with  which  he  invested  them,  and  the  ample 
credentials  which  he  hereby  gave  them. 


SECTION  XI. 

Mark  xvi.  15 — 19.     Acts  i.  6 — ^12.     Luke   xxiv. 
60—53. 

When  they  therefore  were  come  together,  they  asked  of 
him,  saying,  Lord,  wilt  thou  at  this  time  restore  again 
the  kingdom  to  Israel  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  It  is 
not  for  you  to  know  the  times  or  the  seasons,  which  the 
Father  hath  put  in  his  own  power.  But  ye  shall  re- 
ceive power,  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you  : 
and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in   Jerusalem, 


412  HARMONY    OP    THE 

and  in  allJudea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost 
parts'- of  the  earth. 

And  he  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and 
preach  the  g^ospel  to  every  creature.  He  that  believeth 
and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved  ;  but  he  that  believeth 
not  shall  be  damned.  And  these  signs  shall  follow^  them 
that  believe  :  In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils  ; 
they  shall  speak  with  new  tongues ;  they  shall  take  up 
serpents  ;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall  not 
hurt  them  ;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick,  and  they 
shall  recover. 

So  then  after  the  Lord  had  spoken  these  things  unto 
them,  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  blessed  them.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  and  while  they  be- 
held, he  was  parted  from  them,  and  taken  up,  and  a  cloud 
received  him  out  of  their  sight,  and  carried  him  up  into 
heaven,  and  he  sat  on  the  right  hand  of  God. 

And  while  they  looked  steadfastly  toward  heaven  as 
be  went  up,  behold  two  men  stood  by  them  in  white  ap- 
parel ;  which  also  said.  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand 
ye  gazing  up  into  heaven  ?  This  same  Jesus,  which  is 
taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like 
manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven. 

And  they  worshipped  him,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem 
with  great  joy  from  the  mount  called  Olivet,  which  is 
from  Jerusalem  a  Sabbath-day's  journey  :  and  were 
continually  in  the  temple,  praising  and  blessing  God. 


Thus  did  our  victorious  Saviour  ascend  on  high,  and  lead  cap- 
tivity captive:  the  chariots  of  God  which  attended  him  were 
twenty  thousand,  even  thousands  of  angels/  (Ps.  Ixviii.  17,  18  :) 
and  being  gone  into  heaven,  he  is  there  seated  on  the  right  hand 
oj  God;  angels,  and  authorities,  and  powers  being  made  subject 
to  him;  (1  Pder  iii.  22.)  Let  us  his  humble  followers  look  af- 
ter him  with  holy  joy  and  pleasing  expectation ;  congratulating 
his  triumphs,  and  trusting  through  his  grace  to  share  them. 

Like  the  apostles,  let  us  bow  down  and  worship  him;  and 
while  we  continue  here  below,  let  us  make  it  our  daily  labour  and 
care  to  seek  those  things  which  are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  at 


FOtm   GOSPELS.  418 

the  right-hand  of  God:  (Col.  iii.  1.)  And,  instead  of  amusing 
ourselves  with  the  vain  dreams  of  temporal  grandeur  and  felicity, 
or  with  curious  inquiries  after  those  times  and  seasons  which  the 
Father  has  reserved  in  his  own  power,  let  us  apply  with  vigour 
and  zeal  to  that  business  which  he  has  assigned  us ;  labouring  to 
the  utmost  to  promote  his  gospel,  and,  by  a  diligent  improvement 
of  our  time  and  opportunities,  to  prepare  for  his  final  appearance, 
when  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heavenWwh  more  pub- 
lic splendour  than  he  returned  thither,  and  shall  come  in  the  glory 
of  his  Father,  and  his  oivn  glory,  with  a  majestic  pomp  which 
every  eye  shall  see,  and  with  the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  which  even 
all  the  nations  of  the  dead  shall  hear. 


SECTION  XII. 

Mark  xvi.  20.     John  xx.  30,31  ;  xxi.  25. 

And  many  other  signs  truly  did  Jesus  in  the  presence 
of  his  disciples,  which  are  not  written  in  this  book. 
But  these  are  written,  that  ye  might  believe  that  Jesus 
is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  that  believing  ye 
might  have  life  through  his  name. 

And  there  are  also  many  other  things  which  Jesus 
did,  the  which,  if  they  should  be  written  every  one,  I 
[John]  suppose  that  even  (he  world  itself  could  not  con- 
tain the  books  that  should  be  written. 

And  they  went  forth,  and  preached  every  where,  the 
Lord  working  with  thcniy  and  confirming  the  word  with 
signs  following.     Amen. 

Let  us  thankfully  own  his  gracious  presence  vith  his  disci- 
ples, whom  he  left  behind  him  ;  and  with  admiring  gratitude 
reflect  upon  the  happy  con.<!equences  of  that  presence,  in  the 
establishment  of  the  gospel  in  the  world,  and  the  transmission 
of  it  even  unto  us,  in  so  remote  an  age  and  country. 

Let  us  especially  praise  him  (or  {hese  sacred  ricords  vihich 
contain  such  an  authentic  and  exact  account  of  those  impor- 
tant facts  in  which  we  are  all  so  nearly  concerned;  records 
incomparably  more  valuable  than  the  uriiings  of  our  private 
estates,  or  the  charters  of  our  public  liberties.  Let  us  earnestly 
pray  that    their  great  design  may  be  answered  in  us;  and 

36* 


414  HARMONY    OF    THE    FOUR    GOSPELS. 

make  it  our  importunate  request  to  Him  who  is  the  gtver  of 
all  grace.^  that  through  the  operations  of  that  Holp  Sjnrit, 
without  the  influence  of  which  even  scripture  itself^  with  all 
our  advantages  for  understanding  and  improving  it,  will  be 
a  sealed  book,  or  a  dead  letter^  our  faith  may  be  nourished  and 
confirmed  by  every  portion  of  it  which  we  read;  and  that  our 
hearts  may  be  so  delivered  into  the  mould  of  his  word,  that 
believing  on  Christ,  under  all  the  characters  he  bears,  we  ma^ 
have  life  through  his  name ;  and  may  at  length  receive  the  end  of 
our  faith  in  the  complete  salvation  of  our  souls,  through  him,  to 
whom  with  the  Father,  and  the  eternal  Spirit,  be  undivided 
honours,  and  everlasting  praises.     Amen  uudAmenS 


TABLE 


OF    THE 


SECTIONS  AND  CHAPTERS  OF  THE  GOSPELS. 


PART  I. 

Sect.  Page.  Matthew.  Mabk.  Luke.  John. 

1  3  i.  1.  i.  1—4.  

2  4  i.  5—25.  

3  6  i.  26—38.  

4  8  i.  39—56.  

5  10         i.  18—25.  


6  11             i.  57— 67. 

7  12             i.  67— 80. 

8  13             ii.  1—21. 

9  16  i.  1—17.               iii.  23—38. 

10  19             ii.  22—39. 

U  21  ii.  1— 12.  

12  23  ii.  13—23.  


13  25  ii.  40— 52.                 

PART   II. 

1  31  i.  1— 18. 

2  33  iii.  1—4.  i.  2—4.  iii.  1—6.                   

3  34  iii.  5—12.  i.  7—8.  iii.  7—20.                

4  36  iii.  13—17.  i.  9—11.  iii.  21—23.                

5  38  iv.  1—11.  i.  12—13.  iv.  1—13.                 

6  40  i.  19-28. 

7  41  i.  29—42. 

8  43  i.  43— 51. 

9  45  ii.  1— 11. 

10  46  ii.  12— 25. 

11  48  iii.  1—10. 


416  INDEX. 

Sect.  Page.  Matthew.  Mark.  Luke.  John. 

12  60  iii.  12—21. 

13  51  iii.  22— 36. 

14  53  iv.  1—26. 

15  56  iv.  27—42. 

16  67  iv.  43—54. 

17  59  iv.  14—30.                

18  62  iv.  12—22.  i.  14—20.  iv.  31, 32.                

19  63  i.  21—28.  iv.  31—37.                

20  64  \V"'}^~}J'l  i.  29— 39.  iv.38— 44.                


iv.  23—25. 

21  67  v.  1—16.  '         

22  69  V.  17—26.  

23  71  v.  27—48.  

24  74  vi.  1—18.  

25  76  vi.  19—34.  

26  78  vii.  1—20.  

27  80  vii.  21— 29.  

28  82  viii.  1.  v.  1—11.  

29  84  viii.  2—4.  i.  40—45.  v.  12—16.  

30  86  ix.  2—8.  ii.  1—12.  v.  17—26.  

31  87  ix.  9—17.  ii.  13—22.  v.  27—30.  

PART  III. 

1  93  V.  1—16. 

2  95  . V.  17—30. 

3  96  V.  31—47. 

4  98  xii.  1—8.  ii.  23—28.  vi.  1-5.  

5  100  xii.  9—14.  iii.  1—6.  vi.  6—11.  

6  102  xii.  15—21.  iii.  7—12.  

7  103  X.  2—4.  iii.  13—19.  vi.  12—19.  

8  105  vi.  20—36.  

9  107  vi.  37—49.  

10  108  viii.  5—13.  vii.  1—10.  

11  111  vii.  11—18.  

12  112  xi.  2—6.  vii.  19—23.  

13  113  xi.  7—19.  vii.  24—35.  

14  116  xi.  20— 30.  

15  117  vii.  36— 50.  

16  119  xii.  22—32.  iii.  20—30.  viii.  1—3.  

17  121  xii.  33—45.  

18  124  xii.  46— 50.  iii.  31— 35.  

19  125  xiii.  1—17.  iv.  1—9.  viii.  4—8.  


.0    mp'"i^-^;|     _ 

21     128    xiii.  31—35.        iv.  26—34. 


INDEX.  417 

Sect.  Page.  Matthew.         Mark.  Luke.  John. 

22  130  xiii.  36,  18— 23.    iv.  10— 25.  viii.  9— IR.              

23  132  xiii.44— 52.  viii.  19— 21.              

24  133  j  ""'xiil.^isr*  I     i^- 35-41.  viii.  22— 25.            

25  135  viii.  28—34,  ix.  1.    v.  1—21.  viii.  26—40.           

26  138  ix.  10—17.  

27  139  ix.  18—34.  v.  22—43.  viii.  41—45.           

oo  1  ^a  (  X'"'  54 — 58,  >      „:    1       a                                                          

2«  ^^2  h^.  35-38.  5     ''■^-^-  

29  144  X.  1—15.  vi.  7—11.  ix.  1—5.                 

30  145  X.  16—31.  

31  147  X.  32—42,  xi.  1.     vi.  12— 13.  ix.  6.                   

32  149  xiv.  1—12.         vi.  14—29.  ix.  7—9.                

33  152  xiv.  13—23.       vi.  30—46.  ix.  10—17.  vi.  1—15. 

34  155  xiv.  24— 36.       vi.  47— 56.  vi.  16— 21. 

35  157             vi.22— 40. 

36  159             vi.  41—58. 

37  161             vi.  59— 71. 

PART  IV. 

1  165  XV.  1—9.  vii.  1-13.  

2  167  XV.  10—20.      vii.  14—23.  

3  168  XV.  21— 28.       vii.  24— 30.  «, 

4  ,70  -29-39.    {™;  3/2^}  _  _ 

5  172  xvi.  1—12.      viii.  11—21.  

6  174  xvi.  13—20.     viii.  22—30.  ix.  18—21.             

7  176  xvi.  21—28.    \  vui.  31— 38.  )  ^^  22—27.             

8  178  xvii.  1— 13.        ix.  2— 13.  ix.  28— 36.             

9  180  xvii.  14—21.      ix.  14—29.  ix.  37—43.              

10  183  xvii.  22— 27.      ix.30— 32.  ix.  43— 45.  vii.  1. 

11  184            ix.  33— 50.  ix.  46— 50.             

12  186  xviii.  1—20.  

13  189  xviii.  21—25.  

14  191             — -  vii.  1—13. 

15  192            vii.  14—24. 

16  193            ^  vii.  25—36. 

17  195             —- —  vii.  37—53. 

18  197             .  viii.  1—11. 

19  199             viii.  12—29. 

20  201             viii.  30— 47. 

21  202             viii.  48— 59. 

22  204             — -.  ix.  1—23. 

23  206             =.  ix.  24—38. 


418 


INDEX. 


Sect.  Page.  Matthew.  Mark. 

24  208  

25  209  

26  211  

27  213  

28  215  

29  218  

30  220  

31  221  

32  223  

33  225  

34  ^27  

35  228  

36  230  

37  232  

38  234  

39  236  

40  237  

41  239  . 

42  241  

43  243  

44  244  

45  246  

46  248  

47  250  

48  251  

49  253  

50  254 

51  257  

52  259  

53  261  

54  263  

55  264  xix.  1,2.  x.  1. 

56  266  

57  268  xix.  3—12.  x.  2—12. 

58  270  xix.  13—15.  x.  13—16. 

59  272  xix.  16—30.  x.  17—31. 

60  275  XX.  1—16.  

61  277  XX.  17—20.  x.  32—45. 

62  279  XX.  29— 34.  x.  46— 52. 

63  281  _  

64  282  

65  284  xxvi.  6—13.  xiv.  3—9. 

66  286  xxi.  1—9.  xi.  1—10. 


LCTKE. 


ix.  51—62. 
X.  1—16. 
x.  17—24. 
X.  25—37. 
X.  38—42. 
xi.  1—13. 
xi.  14—36. 
xi.  37—54. 
xii.  1—12. 
xii.  13—21. 
xii.  22—34. 
xii.  35—48. 
xii.  49—59. 
xiii.  1—9. 
xiii.  10     21. 
xiii.  22—35. 
xiv.  1 — 14. 
xiv.  15—24. 
xiv.  25—35. 
XV.  1—10. 
XV.  1 1—32. 
xvi.  1—18. 
xvi.  19—34. 
xvii.  1—10. 
xvii.  11—19. 
xvii.  20—37. 
xviii.  1 — 14. 


xviii.  15—17. 
xviii.  18-30, 

xviii.  31 — 34. 

I  xviii.  35—43, 

;  xix  1. 

xix.  2 — 10. 

xix.  11—28. 


John. 
ix.  39—41, 

X.  1—10. 
X.  11—21. 

X.  22—42. 

xi.  1—16. 
xi.  17—46. 
xi.  47—57. 


xix.  29- 


5  xi.  55—57. 

{  xii.  1-11- 

-40.    xii.  12—19. 


INDEX.  419 

Sect.  Page.  Matthew.  Mark.  Lukk.  John. 

67  289  xxi.  10,  11,  14—17.     xi.  11.  xix.  41—44.  

68  290  xii.  20—36. 

69  292  xxi.  13— 22.-  xi.  12— 26.  xix.  45— 48.            

70  295  xxi.  23—46.  \  ^1:  V~f^'  \  xx.  1—19.              

(  Xll.  1 — 12.    > 

71  298  xxii.  1—14.  

72  300  xxii.  15—22.  xii.  13—17.  xx.  20—26.             

73  302  xxii.  23—33.  xii.  18—27.  xx.  27—40.             

74  304  xxii.  34—40.  xii.  28—34.          

75  306  xxii.  41— 46.  xii.  35— 40.  xx.  41 — 47.            

76  307  xii.  41— 44.          xii.  37— 50. 

77  310  xxiii.  1—22.  

78  312  xxiii.  23— 29.  

79  314  xxiv.  1— 14.  xiii.  J— 13.  xxi.  5— 19.              

80  317  xxiv.  15—28.  xiii.  14—23.  xxi.  20—24.           

81319  xxiv.  29— 36  xiii.  24— 32.  xxi.  25— 33.            

82  321  xxiv.  37— 51.  xiii.  33— 37.         

83  323  XXV.  1—13.  

84  324  XXV.  14—30.  

85  326  XXV.  31—46.  

fiA  'js>a  ^  xxvi.  1— 4,  )  Cxiv.  1,2,  )  C  xxi.  37,  38,  )        

»b  J^y  J      14—16.     \  J    10,  11.    5  Jxxii.  1— 6.  5 

87  331  xxvi.  17—20.  xiv.  12—17.  xxii.  7—18.         

88  332  xiii.  1—17. 

>;9  334  xxvi.  21— 26.  xiv.  18— 22.     xxii.  19— 23.     xiii.  18— 30. 

90  336  xiii.  31— 38. 

91  337  xxii.  24— 38.             

92  339  xxvi.  27—29.  xiv.  23—25.  xxii.  20.                  

93  340  xiv.  1  —  14. 

94  343  xiv.  15—31. 

95  345  XV.  1—11. 

96  346  XV.  12—27. 

97  349  XVI.  1—15. 

98  350  xvi.  16—38. 

99  353  xvii.  1—12. 

100  355  xvii.  13—26. 

101357  xxvi.  30— 35.  xiv.  26— 31.       xxii.  39.         xviii.  1. 

102  358  xxvi.  36— 46.  xiv  32— 42.  xxii.  40— 46.     xviii.  1. 

103  3C0  xxvi.  47— 56.  xiv.  43— 52.  xxii.  47— 53.  xviii.  2— 11. 

104  363  xxvi.  57— 68.  xiv.  53— 65.  J  ^^g^^g^^'  ^   xviii.  19— 24. 

105  366  xxvi.  69—75-  xiv.  66—72.  xxii.  56—62.  <  js^SS— 27! 

106  368  xxvii.  1— 10.  xv.  1.  xxii.  66—71.      xviii.  28. 

107  370  xviii.  28 — 40. 

108  372  xix.  1—14. 


420 


INDEX. 


Sect.  Page.  Matthew. 


109  374 

110  376 

111  377 

112  381 

1 13  384 

114  386 

115  389 


xxvii.  11 — 14. 
xxvii.  15 — 26. 
xxvii.  27—34. 
xxvii.  35 — 44. 
xxvii.  45 — 56. 
xxvii.  56 — 61. 
xxvii.  62 — 66. 


Mark. 

XV.  2—5. 

XV.  6—15. 

XV.  16—23. 

XV.  24—32. 

XV.  33 —41. 

XV.  40 — 47. 


Luke.  John. 

xxiii.  2 — 16.        XIX.  15. 
xxiii.  17 — 25.      xix.  16. 
xxiii.  26—34.  xix.  16—18. 
xxiii.  35—43.  xix.  19—24. 
xxiii.  44—49.  xix.  25—27. 
xxiii.  49—56.  xix.  31—41. 


PART  V. 


xxviii.  1 — 8. 
xxviii.  11 — 15, 


1  393 

2  395 

3  397 

4  399 

5  402  

6  404  

7  405  xxviii.  9,10,16— 20. 

8  406  

9  408  

10  410  

11  411 


xvi.  1 — 8. 


xvi.  9. 
xvi.  10— 13. 


xvi.  14. 


xxiv,  1—9,  11. 

xxiv.  12. 
xxiv.  14 — 35. 
xxiv.  36—40. 


XX.  1—17. 
XX.  18. 

XX  19— 2J. 
XX.  24—29. 


xxi.  1- 

xxi.  15- 


-14. 

-24. 


12  413 


xvi.  15—19. 
xyi.  23. 


xxiv.  44 — 49. 
xxiv.  49 — 53. 


XX.  .30,31. 

xxi.  25. 


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